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Bengaluru court stays release of book on Siddaramaiah
Soorya Mukundaraj, general secretary of State Congress Legal Cell, in the complaint, alleged that the book contains derogatory, imaginary and provocative writings on Siddaramaiah
The Bengaluru City civil court on Monday stayed the release of the book titled ‘Siddu Nija Kanasugalu’ after a petition was filed by Congress MLA Yathindra Siddaramaiah, the son of leader of opposition and former chief minister Siddaramaiah.
The book authored by Rohith Chakrathirtha was to be released on Monday afternoon by Karnataka higher education minister CN Ashwath Narayan and BJP MLC Chalavadi Narayanaswamy was the chief guest.
Chakrathirtha earlier headed the state’s textbooks revision committee, which the government disbanded after protests over the new textbooks.
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According to people aware of the development, the book contained writings on the alleged “misrule” during the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government in the state and his “appeasement politics”.
It also reportedly highlights certain controversial and communally sensitive incidents during the former chief minister’s tenure.
The Karnataka Congress on Sunday had lodged a complaint at the SJ Park police station in Bengaluru, demanding that the police should stop the release of the book at the Town Hall in the city on Monday.
Soorya Mukundaraj, general secretary of State Congress Legal Cell, in the complaint, alleged that the book contains derogatory, imaginary and provocative writings on Siddaramaiah.
Mukundaraj also said that the book contains a distorted image of Siddaramaiah on its cover page.
The posters of the book launch event slated on Monday showed copies of books with a picture of Siddaramaiah wearing an attire resembling the 18th century ruler of erstwhile Mysuru Kingdom Tipu Sultan, and holding a sword, on its cover.
According to the poster, Narayan was supposed to release the book.
“I appreciate the effort to find answers to many questions along with revealing many sensitive issues through the book “Siddu Nijakanasugalu”. I am going to participate in the public launch of this book,” Ashwath Narayan had said, tweeting about the event on Sunday.
Hitting out at the BJP, Mukundaraj said the invitees have a track record of sharing false messages on social media and targeting one particular community to disturb the law and order in the state.
“This time also, there is an intention to stir communal peace by projecting Siddaramaiah in a certain way, which leads to communal disturbance in the society,” Mukundaraj stated.
“If permission is given for this programme, it should be withdrawn and direction should be given for the organisers to cancel the book release programme,” Mukundaraj further said in the complaint.
Meanwhile, Siddaramaiah on Monday said the book intends to humiliate him ahead of the assembly elections in the state next year, and called it “defamatory”.
“To humiliate me ahead of the elections, they are bringing out a book. It is totally defamatory. I will see what is to be done legally,” Siddaramaiah said.
“I don’t know, everything is yellow for those with jaundiced eyes. Who wore the dress like Tipu Sultan and held a sword in their hands? It was Yediyurappa and Shobha Karandlaje. Who wrote the foreword for Sheikh Ali’s book on Tipu, isn’t it duality?” Siddaramaiah asked, alleging BJP’s role behind the book.
A response from the BJP is awaited.
