A day after anti-CAA protests in Karnataka turned violent claiming two lives, former chief minister Siddaramaiah slammed the state government for the violence. "The government is responsible for the violence. The government should not have imposed prohibitory order. The violence has claimed two young lives. They have banned social media and internet. Is this a democracy? Thousands are protesting against the government policy. It reminds me of Hitler's tyranny," said Siddaramaiah, adding that he would be visiting Mangaluru in the afternoon.
"I am going to Mangaluru to console people. They have killed two people in an inhuman way. You cannot go scotfree by giving compensation," he added.
Meanwhile, another Congress delegation, led by V.S. Ugrappa, was stopped at the Mangaluru airport. Reiterating the Congress stand on the protests, Congress leader D.K. Shivakumar said it was the duty of every citizen to protest against injustice. "Never in the history, Section 144 was imposed for three days. Why did the cops prevent Ramachandra Guha? Give food and jobs to the poor. People are shutting down businesses and factories. People are losing their jobs. The law you have brought is affecting the entire nation. The economic status of the country is pathetic. Are you asking our aged parents to produce documents to prove they are Indian nationals? The world is watching us. India has given a message of peace. You are trying to shut down the internet in the country?" asked Shivakumar.
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Shivakumar also defended Congress MLA U.T. Khader, for allegedly inciting violence in Mangaluru through his "inflammatory" speech on Wednesday. "He was attending an event in Koppal yesterday. How can you blame him? Is this an Emergency? Why are protesters being stopped from holding a rally? People are asking for equality and freedom. You are shooting the youth. We are not dead. This is democracy and no one should be curtailed from speaking against the government. It is our duty to protect the Constitution," Shivakumar explained, amid calls for action against Khader.
Home minister Basavaraj Bommai said the protests in Bengaluru and Gulbarga were peaceful on the second day. "We have relaxed the curfew in Mangaluru. We have facilitated the people to offer prayers. Our CM has spoken to minorities' leaders and sought their cooperation to maintain peace. CAA is being twisted to create fear among the minorities. To maintain peace, to safeguard human life and loss of property, we had to impose Section 144. Some Congress leaders, who have instigated the protesters, are responsible for the violence."
Claiming that the Mangaluru violence was due to the entry of outsiders, Union Minister Prahlad Joshi said, "Some people from Kerala came to Mangaluru and tried to attack the police station. They are trying to instigate the minorities and are misleading them. The act is not to deny citizenship to Indians. Minorities in India are safe and will continue to be safest in India. Vested groups are trying to take undue advantage. The protests are not across India, but in a few pockets".
