Don’t miss the latest developments in business and finance.

Noisy Scenes In Ls, Rs Over Killing Of Dalits In Kolar

Image
THE HINDUSTAN TIMES
Last Updated : Mar 16 2000 | 12:00 AM IST

The Killing of Dalits in the Kolar district of Karnataka today figured prominently in both Houses of Parliament leading to noisy scenes.

In the Rajya Sabha, the issue was debated for the second day in succession with members expressing concern over the incident.

Home Minister Lal Krishen Advani informed the members that the situation in the affected area was these though "under control."

More From This Section

In the Lok Sabha, the BJP members went to the extent of calling upon the Congress leadership to replace the State Chief Minister S M Krishna in line with its earlier stance in sacking the Orissa Chief Minister, following the murder of the Australian missionary and his two children.

Ms Uma Bharati of the BJP, who raised the issue in the Lok Sabha, sought a CBI inquiry into the killings. Amid loud protests from the Congress benches, she alleged that killing of Dalits had become a "routine affair" in the Congress ruled States.

According to Ms Bharati, the crime could have been avoided had the police taken action in advance. Supporting Ms Bharati's contention, her party colleague Shivraj Singh sought Centre's intervention by way of instituting a CBI inquiry into the incident.

Congress member K H Muniappa, in whose constituency the spot of the crime is located, said that he, along with the State Chief Minister, Home Minister and the DGP, had reached there within three hours of the occurence of the killings.

Mr Muniappa said that the State Government had already announced a judicial probe at the behest of the local community leaders.

Terming the incident as "very serious", the Congress member said that the State Government had taken all the necessary steps to prevent recurrence of such incidents. He said that 16 persons had already been taken into custody in connection with the killings.

Responding to the submissions of the members, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pramod Mahajan informed the House that the Government would make a statement on Thursday over the killings.

Mr Mahajan said artrocities against Dalits need condemnation by all, irrespective of the place of occurence. This is a matter of shame and it should be treated as a crime against humanity, he added.

Making a suo moto statement in the Rajya Sabha, the Home Minister said that the State police had so far arrested 15 persons responsible for the carnage.

Additional police force has been stationed at the Kambalapalli village, where the crime took place, besides the special divisional head-quarters at Chintamani and the Kolar district headquarters.

Also Read

First Published: Mar 16 2000 | 12:00 AM IST

Next Story