Mangaluru : Relating to the disturbances in the city over Citizenship Amendment Act, former chief minister, H D Kumaraswamy, held a press conference here on Friday January 10 and released a video containing 35 video clips. He charged the state government of trying to transform the city into Kashmir and that he has released this CD in order to drive home his point.

“If the government had done nothing wrong, and if the police had not behaved the way they did, nothing would have happened. Disturbances have happened in other districts too, but the situation went out of control only here. Why did this happen?” he questioned and wanted the people to think of the reasons for this. Holding city police commissioner Harsha P S, directly responsible for these incidents, he demanded for his immediate suspension from service.

He noted that Udupi district deputy commissioner has undertaken magisterial inquiry into the disturbances here. “There is no doubt that he will submit a report as per the diktats of the government. The people who attended the public hearing themselves provided video and information. It is clear that the police have erred,” he asserted.

Kumaraswamy said that people standing in front of shops were caned. “The vehicle loaded with stones had undertaken four trips elsewhere. It had not arrived at the spot purposefully with a load of stones. I have released video connected with this incident too,” he explained.

He said that the Citizens Forum had decided to organize people’s movement and a Janata Adalat (People’s court) was formed with three members, retired judge including Justice Gopala Gowda and Sugata Srinivas. “I have collected records relating to the disturbances here. I will raise this topic in the state assembly. I will also highlight the blunders committed by the police here. The government is trying to twist the facts to cover up for its follies. When an attempt to hold Janata Adalat was done in the city, the sub-inspector did not allow it. I want to know who gave this right to the police?” he angrily questioned.