Bengaluru, September 14: Two FIRs have been registered against BJP MLA Munirathna for alleged harassment, threats and casteist abuse, police said on Saturday. The cases against the Rajarajeshwarinagar MLA were filed at Vyalikaval police station here on Friday, they said.

In the first FIR filed by BBMP (Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike) contractor, Cheluvaraju, he accused the MLA of demanding Rs 30 lakh as a bribe and threatening to terminate his contract if he did not pay the amount.

In his complaint, he alleged that initially, Munirathna had demanded Rs 20 lakh in 2021 from him over a solid waste disposal contract. However, despite making that payment for getting 10 auto trippers for a waste management contract, he was not sanctioned those vehicles by the civic body.

According to the FIR, Cheluvaraju was being repatedly harassed by the MLA who allegedly verbally abused him and also physically assaulted him. In the complaint, he further alleged that the MLA did not allow him to execute his work and had even slapped him in September 2023.

Along with the MLA, three others, including government officials, were also named in the FIR for allegedly threatening, abusing and harassing the contractor. He also alleged that because of the repeated harassment, he even thought of ending his life, it said. Cheluvaraju has also released an audio recording of a phone conversation between him and the accused MLA.

According to police, the second FIR has been filed against the MLA on the complaint of a BBMP corporator who alleged that the MLA hurled casteist abuse, insulted his caste and family. The MLA allegedly asked Chaluvaraju not to associate himself with the corporator because of his caste.

The FIR was registered under SC and the ST (prevention of atrocities) Act and other sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, police added.

A senior police officer said, “Based on the complaints received, we registered two separate cases against the MLA who has been accused of threats, harassment, bribery and casteist abuse. The matter is being investigated.”

Doda: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that the upcoming Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir will be a fight between “three dynasties” and the youth of the union territory.

He named Congress, National Conference (NC), and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as the three dynasties whose corrupt practices “hollowed out” and “destroyed” Jammu and Kashmir.

Statement Of PM Modi

“This year, the elections to Jammu Kashmir assembly are going to be held between the dynasties and the youth of Jammu and Kashmir,” PM Modi said in his first rally in the election-bound erstwhile State.

“These three families are responsible for the dire state that J-K was in for decades. They indulged in corruption and made you struggle for your basic needs. These families laid the foundation for terrorism and extremism in the valley. They provided a safe haven for the propagation of terrorism for personal gains,” the Prime Minister said.

“On one side, there are these three dynasties, and on the other, my sons and daughters of Jammu and Kashmir. These three dynasties are – the Congress, the National Conference, and the PDP. What these three dynasties have together done with you all is nothing less than a sin. These three families prepared the necessary ground for separatism and terrorism here. Who benefitted from it? The enemies of the nation. They were harbouring terrorism so that their shops of millions continue to prosper. They are responsible for ruining Jammu and Kashmir for decades,” PM Modi said.

PM Modi’s Pledge

The Prime Minister pledged that his government would make a prosperous Jammu and Kashmir, stating that it was “Modi Ki Guarantee.”

“I can see that our sisters and daughters have come here in big numbers to bless us. I am thankful to you all. I will repay this love and blessings of yours by working twice and thrice as hard for you and the country. Together we will build a safe and prosperous Jammu and Kashmir and this is Modi’s guarantee,” PM Modi said.

‘Assembly Elections Will Decide The Fate Of The Union Territory,’ Say PM Modi

The Prime Minister further stated that the assembly elections of Jammu and Kashmir would decide the fate of the Union Territory.

“This time the elections of Jammu and Kashmir is going to decide the fate of J-K. Since independence, our beloved J-K has been targeted by foreign powers. After this, ‘pariwarwad’ started hollowing this beautiful state. The political parties you trusted here did not care about your children. Those political parties only promoted their own children. The youth of J&K have been suffering with terrorism and the parties promoting ‘pariwarwad’ were having fun by misleading you. These people have never allowed new leaders to emerge anywhere in J-K. You also know that panchayat elections were not held here after 2000,” PM Modi said.

PM Modi On “Pariwarwad”

He further said that “‘Pariwarwad’ did not allow the youth to come forward and that is why, after coming to power in 2014, I have tried to bring forward the new leadership of the youth in Jammu and Kashmir.”

“In 2018, panchayat elections were held here. In 2019, BDC elections were held and in 2020, DDC elections were held for the first time. Why were these elections held? So that democracy reaches the grassroots level in Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.

PM Modi On Remarks Made By The Then Congress Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde

The Prime Minister referred to the remark by then Congress’ Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde in which he said that he was scared to visit Lal Chowk

“There was a time when there used to be an undeclared curfew after evening. The situation was such that the Union Home Minister used to be scared to visit Lal Chowk,” he said.

PM Modi On Changing Situation In Jammu & Kashmir

PM Modi referred to the changing situation in Jammu and Kashmir in recent years and said that terrorism is at its last breath in Jammu and Kashmir and pointed to the changing scenario of stone pelting incidents and said that the time has arrived for the development of the region.

“Terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir is now breathing its last. The changes seen here in the last 10 years are nothing short of a dream. The stones that were once picked up to be thrown at the police and army are now being used to build a new Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.

PM Modi Desires For Every Child In Jammu & Kashmir To Have Access To A Good Education

The Prime Minister further said that he wants every child in Jammu and Kashmir to have access to a good education.

“Over the past few years, the BJP government has inaugurated various schools and colleges in J&K for the betterment of the youth. The long-standing demand for a medical college in Doda was also fulfilled recently by the BJP government,” he said.

He further said that the BJP’s resolution and support can bring peace, prosperity and security to Jammu and Kashmir.

“Make our candidates win with a huge mandate and ensure a brighter future for everyone in the valley. Any citizen of Jammu and Kashmir, regardless of his religion, region and cultural affiliation, is a priority for the BJP government. I guarantee to safeguard your rights. It’s only the BJP that can reinforce statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.

Earlier, people cheered for PM Modi and gave him a rousing welcome upon his arrival in Doda amidst heightened security.

About Assembly Elections In Jammu & Kashmir

The elections in Jammu and Kashmir are scheduled for September 18, September 25, and October 1, with counting set for October 8. The Assembly elections are going to be held on 8 Assembly seats in three districts, Doda, Kishtwar, and Ramban, in the first phase, voting for which will be held on 18 September.

Jammu and Kashmir will witness elections after a gap of ten years, as the last assembly election was held in 2014. Jammu and Kashmir has 90 Assembly constituencies, including 7 reserved for SCs and 9 reserved for STs.

According to the Election Commission of India, Jammu and Kashmir has 88.06 lakh eligible voters.

In the previous Assembly elections, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) won 28 seats, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured 25, the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (NC) won 15, and the Congress won 12.

The PDP-BJP coalition government fell in June 2018 when the latter withdrew support to the then-Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti.

These upcoming elections will be the first in Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370.

Mumbai Airport Customs seized 7.465 Kg gold of Rs. 5.113 Crores across seven cases of contraband gold concealed on the bodies of passengers and contractual staff of the airport late Friday night.

About The Seizure

The contraband gold evading customs levies was hidden in pockets of pants worn by them and inside the body cavities of seven individuals arrested for gold smuggling. The alert customs officials of the elite Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) intercepted three passengers, one arriving from Dubai, and another two passengers from Madagascar with 24 KT Gold Jewelry, Key Rings, Keychains, Keys, kadas in color-coated fashion jewelry with a total of Net Weight of 4.655 Kgs valued at Rs. 3.183 crore concealed on body and pockets of the trousers pants worn by them.

2 Contractual Staffs Arrested

The customs officers also arrested two contractual staff hired by the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport working in the departure area of the airport with seven pouches of 24KT Gold Dust in wax having a net weight of 2.81 Kg provisionally valued at Rs.1.93 Crore concealed inside undergarments as well as side pockets of the trouser worn by the contract staff.

The questioning of the airport staff led to the arrest of four other airport staff involved in abetting the smuggling racket with picking of the contraband gold from international flights and handing them to transit passengers on domestic flights to avoid customs checks and detection.