Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (ANK)

Mangaluru, Dec 25: Former chief minister and Congress leader Dr M Veerappa Moily on Wednesday December 25 lashed out at chief minister B S Yediyurappa for backtracking on compensation for the families of those killed in Mangaluru violence, and said that he was 'unfit' to be the CM of the state.

Earlier in the day, Yediyurappa announced that no compensation would be paid to the families of Nausheen and Jaleel, who died in police firing during the violent anti-CAA protests in the city on December 19, if the two were found guilty of being part of the protest. He had earlier announced that each of the families would get Rs 10 lac as compensation.

Addressing a press meet here, Moily said, "The two innocent people were killed in police firing during anti-CAA protestt in Mangaluru, after which chief minister Yediyurappa had announced compensation of Rs 10 lac, but now he has changed his stance and said that compensation will not be given to the families of the deceased as their names are in the FIR. It is an irresponsible statement from the CM.

"This is a misuse of the administrative machinery. I demand Yediyurappa to withdraw the statement. He is not fit to be the chief minister of the state. This is nothing but contempt of the office of the chief minister," said Moily.

"There has to be an impartial enquiry into the incident of Mangaluru violence. It should be a judicial probe by a sitting high court judge. By imposing Section 144 in the entire state, they (government) challenged the people who wanted to protest and invited violence. The government provoked people to violence," he alleged.

"There was no need to impose Section 144 in the entire state as there was no incident of violence or riots reported (before the protest)," he added.

"BJP leaders claim that the incident was instigated by MLA U T Khader's remarks, but what about the statements by Suresh Angadi, C T Ravi and Prahlad Joshi relating to the incident? Even Nalin Kumar Kateel had said he would set the district on fire in the Konaje murder case (in 2017). First chargesheet has to be filed against these four for making such provocative statements as they come from a communal background and have some force in their statements," Moily said.

"Some organization had sought permission to protest from the police, which was denied, and all of a sudden section 144 was imposed. The information regarding Section 144 was not conveyed to the masses and nearly 100-200 people had gathered for the protest. Police resorted lathi-charge on the protesters, which was unnecessary. The police could have instead given people permission to assemble at one place and express their opinions on the implementation of NRC and CAA. Two innocents were killed in the police firing. There is some protocol that has to be followed by the police when opening fire, but the police in this case shot directly at the protestors, claiming two lives. We demand impartial judicial Inquiry into the case," he said.

Regarding the controversy over the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC) Moily said, ”The implementation of CAA and NRC has created a lot of confusion among people and protests are happening nationwide. Now Rs 3,900 crore has been approved by the union cabinet for the updation of NPR. Both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah are giving different statements over the implementation of NRC and CAA."

MLA U T Khader, MLC Harish Kumar, former minister Ramanath Rai and others were present.

• Mangaluru: Not a single rupee for families if Nausheen, Jaleel found guilty - CM Yediyurappa