Karnataka : Big protest against the judge for removing Ambedkar’s picture from the stage

A district judge in Karnataka removed the picture of BR Ambedkar placed next to Gandhi’s picture on the stage during the Republic Day celebrations, due to which people are furious. Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has met the protesters and assured action against the guilty judge.

According to the report, Judge Mallikarjuna Gowda is alleged to have ordered the removal of the photograph of Dr. BR Ambedkar placed next to Mahatma Gandhi before unfurling the national flag during Republic Day celebrations in Raichur on January 26. A report in The News Minute has confirmed the rally.

According to Constitution Security Maha Okkuta, a Dalit organization that called the rally, around 1.5 lakh people attended the rally carrying placards and blue flags with Ambedkar’s picture. The rally culminated at Freedom Park where Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai met the protesters and assured them of action against the guilty judge.

The rally, which took place on Saturday, was against the decision in which instead of suspending the judge concerned and registering an FIR against him, he was only transferred. The suspension of the judge and the FIR against him were being demanded by Dalits and various civil organizations across the state.

Soon after the incident came to light, on January 27, several Dalit organizations demonstrated in Raichur to press for criminal action against the judge concerned, but the judge was only transferred.

While meeting the protesters on Saturday, Chief Minister Bommai said that action would be taken against this act. The leaders of Dalit society have explained the incident to me in detail, I will write a letter in this regard soon after discussing with the people concerned.

Condemning the incident, he assured the protesters, ‘Dr. Ambedkar’s insult is condemnable. Under no circumstances will any act that insults the architect of our constitution be tolerated. We are at the forefront of upholding the prestige and honor of Dr. Ambedkar. We will provide justice as per the constitution.

Several Dalit leaders, in their memorandum submitted to the chief minister, have said that “transfer is not a punishment” and demanded criminal action against the judge.

He alleged that the judge was of “casteist mindset”, that is why he got the picture removed despite the government’s order to make Ambedkar’s picture a part of official functions.

‘False Propaganda’
It is alleged that before unfurling the national flag during Republic Day celebrations on January 26, Judge Mallikarjuna Gowda had allegedly asked his staff to remove Ambedkar’s picture, which was placed near Gandhi’s portrait.

Terming it as false propaganda, the accused judge said that he had no intention of disrespecting Ambedkar. After the controversy caught fire, Gowda issued a statement in the press saying, ‘Some lawyers approached me and demanded that Ambedkar’s picture should be placed next to Mahatma Gandhi’s picture as per government order. I told them that the registrar of the High Court has said in our leaders group that the government order is before the full bench of the High Court and asked us to wait till the matter is decided. And I requested them not to force me.’

Meanwhile, the Karnataka High Court on February 4 issued directions to all courts at the state, district and taluk levels to put up Ambedkar’s picture in all official functions.