The violence during the anti-CAA protest in Mangaluru in December 2019, which left two people dead in police firing, rocked the Karnataka assembly on Wednesday, with Congress holding the ruling BJP responsible for it and demanding a judicial probe headed by a sitting High Court judge into the incident.
Terming the 'golibar' (firing) as "pre planned" and blaming the city police commissioner for it, Leader of the Opposition Siddaramaiah questioned the government on the rule of law, as he expressed fears about the 'danger' to democracy and 'anarchy' taking over the system.
The debate on the law and order condition saw heated exchanges between ruling and opposition sides, even forcing an adjournment
Questioning whether there was rule of law in Karnataka, he said "we believe in rule of law. Without rule of law there will be anarchy and democracy will be in danger."
Siddaramaiah referred to the recent arrest of a parent and a school headmistress (now on bail) in the "sedition case" for their alleged involvement in staging a drama, portraying the Prime Minister in poor light over CAA and NRC and charged the government with using police to 'fix' political opponents and those opposing BJP's "divisive polices."
Police was yet to file a chargesheet and produce evidence before the court. "This is not the final order for the LoP to repeatedly quote from it in the House, it is bail. Is it right to speak on matter that is still under adjudication?."