The Siddharamiah Government in Karnataka “corrected” the letter which asked district police heads to send their recommendations on withdrawal of cases lodged against minorities in communal incidents for the past five years. We had reported on this episode earlier. The government asked police to review cases against all innocent people involved in various cases (including communal incidents) in the state.
The news of the letter had gone viral on social media as many people expressed their outrage at this communal order. The BJP too had jumped at the opportunity to train their guns on the Congress Government:
What a day to sacrifice constitutional principles of Equality and Justice. @siddaramaiah has now decided to drop cases against members of minority community, charged for communal voilence. Appeasement at the expense of Hindu lives, Bhesh Siddaramaiah. pic.twitter.com/zmupwnRXcr
— BJP Karnataka (@BJP4Karnataka) January 26, 2018
The government has now claimed that the specific reference to minorities was a “clerical error”. The home minister of Karnataka Ramalinga Reddy, said that the reference to minorities was part of the implementation of Sachar Committee recommendations. The minister also told ANI that his government had withdrawn cases that involve more than 2800 Hindus and 301 Muslims.
There was some error in the notice, it has been rectified. In last 3 years we have withdrawn around 400 cases that involve more than 2800 Hindus and 301 Muslims. We are not biased: Karnataka Home minister Ramalinga Reddy pic.twitter.com/aHkGC8rXD6
— ANI (@ANI) January 28, 2018
According to reports, the new letter ordered a re-look into cases lodged against the protesters during strikes on Kaveri and Mahadayi river disputes as well. The home minister also ordered police to impose fines in cases of drunk and driving. He told them to avoid filing cases against drivers who are caught for drunk and driving offence.
