Take action against Union minister for linking Tamils to Bengaluru blast: EC to Karnataka CEO

CM MK Stalin, Udhayanidhi slam Union minister Shobha Karandlaje for comments on Tamils M K Stalin and Udhayanidhi Stalin condemned Shobha Karandlaje's divisive comments on the Rameshwaram cafe blast suspect, urging NIA probe amidst social media backlash and demands for investigation.

Police, ECI complaint filed against Shobha Karandlaje for blaming Tamilians for Rameshwaram cafe blast Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin also reacted to the BJP leader's remarks, calling it a 'reckless statement' and said that such assertions could only be made by someone with direct involvement or detailed knowledge of the ongoing investigation into the Rameshwaram cafe blast. He added that Tamilians and Kannadigas alike will reject 'divisive rhetoric of BJP.'

NIA denies arresting Bengaluru's Rameshwaram Cafe blast case suspect The NIA denied arresting the key suspect in the Bengaluru Cafe blast case. The blast occurred at the Whitefield eatery Rameshwaram Cafe, injuring nine people. The suspect was spotted in visuals released by the NIA, travelling in various buses. He is suspected to have travelled from Ballari to Pune by taking a bus heading for Gokarna in Karnataka.

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NEW DELHI: The Election Commission Wednesday directed the Karnataka chief electoral officer (CEO) to ensure “immediate, appropriate action” on a complaint received from DMK against Union minister Shobha Karandlaje ’s controversial statement linking people from Tamil Nadu to the bomb blast in Bengaluru.Directing action in accordance with provisions of the model code of conduct, EC sought a compliance report from the CEO within 48 hours.The EC action follows a complaint received from DMK in which the party alleged that Karandlaje’s suggestion that people of Tamil Nadu had planted the bomb at Rameshwaram Cafe in Bengaluru — made at a press conference in Bengaluru on Tuesday — was a baseless accusation as NIA was yet to identify the culprit. It said the statement “attempts to promote feelings of enmity and hatred between the people of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu”, “generalises the people of Tamil Nadu as extremists” and has the potential to “engender violence against the Tamil community”.Terming Karandlaje’s remarks as a violation of Section 123(3) (corrupt practice) and Section 125 (promoting or attempting to promote feelings of enmity and hatred between different classes on grounds of religion, race, caste, community or language) of Representation of the People Act, 1951 and as well as the model code of conduct (no party or candidate shall aggravate existing differences or create mutual hatred between different communities), Tamil Nadu’s ruling party DMK sought action against the minister and BJP.