Karnataka citizens' forum questions CM Bommai's 'UP Model' remark, seeks apology

Bengaluru: Bahutva Karnataka, a platform for justice, harmony and solidarity, held a press conference on Tuesday, August 2 in the aftermath of the murder of three youths in Dakshina Kannada. The forum alleged that the Basavaraj Bommai government and his cabinet were responsible for the state of affairs currently prevailing in Karnataka.

They demanded that Chief Minister Bommai must apologise for his reference to the 'UP model' and called for action against CN Ashwath Narayan, the Information and Technology Minister for advocating police encounters or judicial killings.

The CM stated on July 26, after the murder of a Yuva Morcha member Praveen Nettaru, "For the situation in Uttar Pradesh, Yogi is the right Chief Minister. Similarly, there are different methods to deal with the situation in Karnataka and all of them are being used. If the situation demands, the Yogi model government will come to Karnataka too." A senior advocate, BT Venkatesh, said that a 'UP Model' was absolutely unnecessary. "Why should we implement the UP Model? Are we in UP? Karnataka has always been known as one of the most progressive states in India and people from all over the country come here in hopes of better opportunities. Problems that are plaguing Karnataka today can be solved by simple law and order reinforcements," he added.

The forum also demanded the Chief Minister's visit and compensation to the families of Fazil, Masood and Sameer. The Chief Minister has so far only visited Praveen's family, while the Chief Minister has not visited the families of Masood, who was killed on July 21 in Kalenje village in Dakshina Kannada, and Fazil, who was killed on July 28 in Surathkal.

A cheque of Rs 25 lakh was handed over to Praveen's family by the Chief Minister from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund. Sameer is a 19-year-old Muslim youth who was killed on January 16, 2022, in Nargund. The Gadag police have arrested four people, including a Bajrang Dal leader, for the murder.

The forum alleged that the killings of the three youth-Masood, Praveen Nettaru and Fazil were not isolated incidents but were the result of hate indoctrination and justification by the Bommai government. The breakdown of the rule of law directly affects the future of the state's youth.

The panel members added that the statements made by the Chief Minister and Higher Education Minister Ashwath Narayan about the need for police encounters to bring in the 'UP Model' is a direct insult to the police, the judiciary and the Constitution of India, according to the News Minute.

Speakers mainly discussed how police inaction, a discriminatory attitude of officers and lack of education and employment opportunities for the youth have contributed to the increase in crime in Karnataka over the past few years. The panel called for strict implementation of judgments like Tehseen Poonawalla vs Union of India and Guidelines on Communal Harmony (2008).

Sharanya of Slum Mahila Sanghatane and Students Islamic Organization's state secretary Muhammad Nasir reiterated that children and youth need good education and employment opportunities to maintain a progressive and peaceful state. The committee also demanded that the Chief Minister should resign immediately if there is no action on their demands.

The press conference was conducted with the aim of highlighting concerns and raising demands for a Karnataka that is safe, dignified and secure for all. Senior lawyers B T Venkatesh and Mohammad Niyaz who is also the state secretary for the Association for Protection of Civil Rights, Maitreyi K from Bahutva Karnataka, Mohammed Nasir, State Secretary of Students Islamic Organisation, Sharanya from Slum Mahila Sanghatane and Aratrike De from All India Students Association addressed the media.