Bhatkal: Uttara Kannada district spokesperson of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC), Shambhu Shetty, has questioned former Member of Parliament Ananth Kumar Hegde over what he described as his “silence” during instances when youth from backward communities allegedly faced legal and social hardships.
In a press release, Shetty was reacting to reports that Hegde has approached the Karnataka High Court seeking relief for his son, who is said to be facing difficulties in obtaining a passport due to a pending criminal case, thereby affecting his plans to pursue higher education in the United States. Hegde has reportedly appealed to the court, maintaining that his son is innocent and seeking intervention to remove obstacles to his academic future.
Referring to these developments, Shetty asked why similar concern had not been shown in the past when, according to him, “thousands of youth from backward communities saw their futures disrupted in the name of religious mobilisation.” He alleged that many such youths were drawn into sensitive situations through provocative speeches and later faced legal consequences that impacted their education, employment prospects, and opportunities abroad.
Citing regional instances, Shetty referred to communal tensions in Bhatkal and the Paresh Mesta case in Honnavar, claiming that several protests linked to religious issues resulted in police cases, with a significant number of those affected belonging to Scheduled Castes and other backward communities. He further alleged that while these youths bore the brunt of legal proceedings, those who incited them often remained unaffected.
According to Shetty, many of these individuals continue to face prolonged court cases, financial burdens, and barriers to accessing higher education, government employment, or overseas opportunities. He also claimed that in several instances, individuals may not have been directly involved in wrongdoing but were entangled in cases due to alleged misinformation provided to authorities.
Criticising what he termed a “double standard,” Shetty said that BJP leaders had rarely come forward to support such affected youth or advocate for their innocence. However, he added that if Hegde’s son is indeed innocent, “we stand with him in seeking justice.”
He further said the episode should serve as a lesson for young people from backward communities, urging them to remain cautious and avoid situations that could jeopardise their future.