Karnataka ministers support Uttar Pradesh template to make rioters pay

BENGALURU: Karnataka Revenue Minister R Ashoka’s pitch to emulate Uttar Pradesh government in handling damage caused to public and private properties during violence has gathered support from his cabinet colleagues. Minister for Primary and Secondary Education S Suresh Kumar on Friday said that he is in support of the revenue minister’s plan to confiscate properties of protesters who indulge in violence.

“People have no right to damage public assets in the name of protests. We can not tolerate such behaviour. The UP government has taken the right decision,” Suresh Kumar said.

He said that he was in total support of confiscation of properties of protesters who indulge in violence and such a campaign if taken up in Karnataka will draw massive support.


Revenue Minister R Ashoka on Thursday, had said that the state government was contemplating to replicate Uttar Pradesh model to access the damage and recover it from those responsible for causing the damage. “If violence happens again, it (confiscation of properties) will be introduced in Karnataka too,” he said, while requesting people to abide by the law.

Earlier, Kannada and Culture Minister C T Ravi too had shared similar idea. “Seized properties should be used to compensate losses,” he said.

Reactions have come in the backdrop of violence that took place during the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act protests in Mangaluru.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has said that the government will take “revenge” on those involved in violence by auctioning their property to compensate for the losses.