The Congress party has often been criticized for supporting extremist ideologies and offering sympathetic leniency a pattern that recent developments in Karnataka seem to reinforce. Reports indicate that the Congress-led state government has withdrawn 60 criminal cases, many of which involve party affiliates, individuals tied to communal unrest, and activists associated with Ambedkarite movements.
On 4 September 2025, Karnataka officially approved the dismissal of cases related to the 2019 Chittapur stone-pelting incident, as well as protests that followed the Enforcement Directorate’s arrest of Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar. Similarly, cases stemming from violence during Ganesh Chaturthi festivities and recent demonstrations in Shivamogga were also dropped.
This sweeping action has sparked controversy, principally because it was undertaken despite pronounced objections from the Home Department, senior police leadership, and legal advisors. Authorities including the Director General of Police, the Director of Prosecutions, and the Law Department warned that many of these cases lacked sufficient grounds for dismissal and served no public interest. Nevertheless, the government proceeded.
One particularly contentious case involved a 2019 Chittapur incident in which young men allegedly attacked police after Hindu activists tipped them off regarding illegal cattle transport this case was reportedly withdrawn at the request of IT and BT Minister Priyank Kharge. Charges were also dropped against Shivakumar’s supporters who damaged public property in Kanakapura during protests against his arrest, as well as accusations against his brother D.K. Suresh’s supporters, who had protested their exclusion from a ceremony honoring Dr. B.R. Ambedkar in 2012.
The pattern of leniency extended to dismissals of cases linked to disruptions during Ganesh Chaturthi processions in districts like Ramanagara and Koppal, where accusations included disorderly conduct and organization of unauthorized ram fights. Former Home Minister Araga Jnanendra is believed to have played a role in advocating these withdrawals. Further removals involved cases from Shivamogga’s Shikaripura region related to 2023 protests over a BJP government’s reservation policy triggered by petitions from Home Minister Dr. G. Parameshwara and Assembly Chief Whip Ashok Pattan.
Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H.K. Patil confirmed that approximately 60 government-initiated cases including those against farmers, students, and Kannada activists were annulled across different police jurisdictions.
This is not an isolated instance. In October 2024, under Siddaramaiah’s leadership, the Karnataka government attempted to withdraw cases against AIMIM leaders and others implicated in the 2022 Hubballi riots. Mass rioting had reportedly occurred, involving an attack on the Old Hubballi police station and nearby property destruction. Yet, following a PIL by advocate Girish Bhardwaj, the Karnataka High Court overturned the proposed withdrawals.
This is not the first time; there are additional episodes where the Congress has been “soft on terror.” Notably:
- In 2010, the UPA government released 25 terrorists some affiliated with Lashkar-e-Taiba, Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, and JeM as a “goodwill gesture” toward Pakistan. Included was JeM operative Shahid Latif, previously sought by the IC814 hijackers; he later orchestrated the 2016 Pathankot airbase attack.
- In 2013, state-led governments dropped numerous cases against terrorist organizations such PFI and SDPI members tied to communal flare-ups, allowing these organizations to strengthen their influence in Karnataka.
- Post-2008 Mumbai terror attacks, reports claim that the UPA failed to authorize retaliatory airstrikes against terror camps in Pakistan, despite such proposals from the IAF.
- There were notable efforts to dilute key anti-terror laws TADA and POTA due to political considerations, as described by late Arun Jaitley.
- High-profile incidents, like the Batla House operation, were cast in a controversial light by senior Congress figures, undermining public confidence in anti-terror efforts.
In sum, the recent case withdrawals in Karnataka reflect a broader pattern of leniency and political expediency in handling serious criminal and terror-related matters, reinforcing the narrative that Congress, at times, adopts a permissive stance toward extremist elements.
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