BJP to stage statewide protest to condemn CT Ravi’s arrest

Belagavi, December 20 (IANS): The Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Karnataka unit on Thursday announced that it will organize a state-level protest in all district headquarters on Friday to condemn the arrest of party MLC CT Ravi for alleged objectionable comments against Women Welfare Minister and the Child, Laxmi Hebbalkar.

BJP state president BY Vijayendra said the BJP will not stop its fight until CT Ravi is unconditionally released and the Congress goons who attacked him are jailed.

The Karnataka Police detained Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLC CT Ravi on Thursday night at Suvarna Vidhana Soudha here for allegedly making derogatory comments against a minister in Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s cabinet.

The action came after Women and Child Welfare Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar filed a complaint. He alleged that Ravi used highly objectionable language in the House.

The police registered an FIR based on Hebbalkar’s complaint under sections 75 and 79 of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) for sexual harassment and use of insulting gestures amounting to sexual harassment.

CT Ravi was detained by the police while he was organizing a protest along with BJP members. They took Ravi from the protest site and put him in a police van.

Hebbalkar also lodged a complaint with Legislative Council president Basavaraj Horatti.

Meanwhile, Vijayendra said, “In response to the Congress government’s veiled attempts to impose another emergency, a massive BJP protest has been called for tomorrow across the state under the slogan ‘Save Democracy, End Goonda Congress.’ ‘, with demonstrations planned in district centers.

“We demand that the Speakers of both the Houses take a stand and initiate action regarding the assault and attempted fatal attack on CT Ravi in ​​Suvarna Soudha in the presence of marshals by outside goons. We also urge the Governor to intervene immediately.”

Vijayendra said the Congress, “famous for imposing the Emergency, is now trying to impose a de facto Emergency in Karnataka”.

“They have incited goons to storm the ‘Temple of Democracy’ – the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha – and commit the heinous act of attacking elected representatives. By misusing the police, they have arrested our leader CT Ravi, who was a victim of this attack.

“Arresting CT Ravi on the basis of a complaint about an incident that occurred inside the House is an authoritarian move that is strangling our democratic system. The Congress is trying to dishonor the dignity of the legislature and undermine its constitutional authority,” he added.

Meanwhile, opposition leader R. Ashoka, speaking to the media at Khanapur police station where CT Ravi is imprisoned, stated: “As per legal terms, CT Ravi’s arrest is not sustainable. The case has been fabricated due to political pressure from ministers. The public knows that the incident took place inside the Legislative Council. Council President Basavaraj Horatti issued an order dismissing Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar’s complaint for lack of evidence.”

The BJP has released videos showing CT Ravi being abused by Congress MLCs within the Legislative Council. The video also shows minister Laxmi Hebbalkar confronting and scolding CT Ravi, asking him if he doesn’t have a mother, wife or sister at home.

Chaos and drama unfolded when, during an earlier heated debate session in the Council, CT Ravi allegedly referred to Congress MP and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi as a “drug addict”.

Objecting to the comments, minister Laxmi Hebbalkar criticized Ravi and called him a “murderer”. In response, the BJP leader allegedly called the minister ap@#%^&*@^e.