Child rights commission seeks action against DK Shivakumar for involving children in political events

The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has sought that Karnataka’s DGP Praveen Sood investigate the involvement of children in political activity spearheaded by KPCC president DK Shivakumar.

Priyank Kanoongo, chairperson of NCPCR has written a letter to the DGP seeking an explanation of the involvement of children in the rally. The commission has also pointed out that the Congress leader had interacted with children in uniform and called out rally announcements without taking Covid appropriate measures or wearing a mask.

The commission took suo-moto cognizance of the same after a video of Shivakumar interacting with students during the Meke Daatu foot march was widely circulated on social media.

Shivakumar is on a foot march – The Mekedatu Padayatre, a foot march demanding the implementation of the Mekedatu project at Sangama in Ramanagara District. The march which commenced on Sunday even as the state is battling the third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic has been controversies’ favourite child drawing several FIRs for the violation of Covid-19 protocols.

The fact that the congress minister met children during a political foot march is an act involving children in political activities. Also, not wearing a mask while interacting with children puts them at risk, the commission explained.

Prima facie, these acts amount to a violation under provisions of the Juvenile Justice Act, Epidemic Diseases act, and the Disaster Management Act according to the letter addressed to Sood. The DGP has been asked to take action regarding the incident within a week’s time.

ಕೋವಿಡ್ ಪ್ರಕರಣ ಕಡಿಮೆ ಇರುವ ರಾಮನಗರದಲ್ಲಿ #ಸುಳ್ಳಿನಜಾತ್ರೆ ಮಾಡುತ್ತಿರುವ ಕಾಂಗ್ರೆಸ್ ನಾಯಕರು ಶಾಲಾ ಮಕ್ಕಳಿಗೂ ಕೋವಿಡ್ ಹರಡುವ ಕೆಲಸಕ್ಕೆ ಕೈ ಹಾಕಿದ್ದಾರೆ.

ಡಿ.ಕೆ. ಶಿವಕುಮಾರ್ ಅವರೇ, ನಿಮ್ಮ ಸ್ವಾರ್ಥ ರಾಜಕಾರಣಕ್ಕೆ ದೇಶದ ಭವಿಷ್ಯವನ್ನು ದುರ್ಬಳಕೆ ಮಾಡಿಕೊಳ್ಳಬೇಡಿ. ಬಂಡತನದ ಮನಸ್ಥಿತಿಯನ್ನು ಬದಲಾಯಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳಿ. pic.twitter.com/nsv3krUZ72

— Dr. Ashwathnarayan C. N. (@drashwathcn) January 11, 2022

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