Karnataka Cabinet Withdraws 52 Cases Against Kannada Activists, Farmers and Dalit Groups

The Karnataka Cabinet on Thursday approved the withdrawal of 52 criminal cases registered across the state against pro-Kannada activists, farmers’ organisations, Dalit groups and other protesters , Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H K Patil announced after the Cabinet meeting.

According to official sources, the withdrawn cases include nearly ten cases against Kannada activist Vatal Nagaraj, many of them linked to protests, demonstrations and Kannada language-related agitations . The Cabinet also cleared the withdrawal of seven cases connected to the 2022 communal violence at Ladle Mushtaq Dargah in Kalaburagi district.

Sources said several of the cases involved charges related to unlawful assembly, road blockades, protest actions and clashes during demonstrations organised by pro-Kannada outfits, farmers’ unions and Dalit activists.

Apart from the legal decisions, the Cabinet approved multiple infrastructure and welfare projects. These include Rs 90 crore for new machinery in 32 Government Tool Room and Training Centres (GTTCs), and Rs 100 crore for a new 200-bed super-speciality hospital building at Karwar Institute of Medical Sciences.

The Cabinet also sanctioned Rs 15 crore for a weir across the Kabini River near Srikanteshwara Temple in Mysuru district and approved the purchase of oil spill response equipment worth Rs 13 crore for Karwar Port.

In the education sector, the government approved a Rs 15 crore residential coaching programme for 500 meritorious backward-class students from government schools preparing for NEET, JEE and CET examinations .