The Hindu : Karnataka News : Suresh Kumar’s ‘silent protest’ against remarks

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Karnataka

Suresh Kumar’s ‘silent protest’ against remarks

Special Correspondent

‘It is my moral responsibility to protect the interest and morale of our officers’

Several advocates join Suresh Kumar in his
silent protest
‘Extraordinary circumstances require extraordinary response’

BANGALORE: Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister and senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader S. Suresh Kumar on Friday staged a dharna in Bangalore as a mark of protest against the alleged use of unparliamentary words again by the former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda against Advocate-General Ashok Haranahalli.

Mr. Kumar staged a “silent protest” at Basaveshwara Circle for about two and half hours to express his indignation at the use of unparliamentary words against the Advocate-General by Mr. Gowda at a public function in Channapatna. With this, he set a new precedence as Ministers normally do not take part in protests and dharnas.

Pointing out that the Advocate-General is the chief law officer of the State, Mr. Kumar said it was his moral responsibility to protect the interest and morale of the officers working under him.

“I am undertaking this silent protest to express my protest and indignation at Mr. Gowda’s use of abusive language against law officers of the State,” he said.

The Minister said the AG was silently suffering the invectives as he could not hit back at Mr. Gowda in public owing to his position as former Prime Minister.

He defended the act of staging a dharna despite being a Minister by remaking that “extraordinary circumstances require extraordinary response.”

“I do not know whether this will open Mr. Gowda’s eyes or touch his conscience. But at least through this silent protest, I can send a message in a loud, clear and categorical way to indicate that the Minister is here to protect the legitimate interest of his officers and that he will not meekly watch them being humiliated,” he said.

‘Will fight back’

Mr. Kumar said: “This is also a message to Mr. Gowda that his kind of politics of using unacceptable language will not be taken lightly and it will be fought back though not in an uncivilised way, but in a way that is civilised and befitting.”

“Silence is eloquent. My silence has this message of solidarity to the advocate fraternity in particular and the people who loathe indecency in politics in general,” he remarked. Several advocates joined Mr. Kumar in his silent protest.

Mr. Gowda had used similar language earlier against Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa which had then been protested throughout the state by the BJP workers.

Members of the Karnataka State Bar Council will sport red ribbons on Monday to protest the allegedly abusive language used against Mr. Haranahalli by Mr. Gowda.

The decision was taken at a meeting held at the premises of the Bar Council here on Friday. The Council has “strongly condemned” Mr. Gowda’s conduct.

According to a press release issued by the council, Mr. Gowda’s attack on a “constitutional functionary and an advocate” is intimidating and obstructs (Mr. Haranahalli) from discharging his functions on behalf of his client.

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