'Highest Respect & Regard For Tamil Nadu': Minister Shobha Karandlaje Apologises In High Court For Linking Rameswaram Café Bombers To TN
Upasana Sajeev
4 Sep 2024 5:07 AM GMT
Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje who was in the eye of the storm for her comments linking the Rameswaram Café bombers to the state of Tamil Nadu has filed an affidavit in the Madras High Court apologizing for her remarks. The affidavit was filed in a plea seeking to quash the criminal proceedings initiated against her following the remarks.
The allegation against Shobha is that in March 2024, after the blasts in Rameshwaram café, she allegedly said, “People trained in Tamil Nadu plant bombs here. Bomb was planted at the hotel.” Following this, one Thiagarajan, a resident of Madurai, lodged a complaint stating that the alleged remark was intended to create enmity and hatred among Tamils and Kannadigas.
When the matter was taken up by Justice G Jayachandran on Tuesday, Advocate General PS Raman informed the court that he would look into the apology affidavit filed by Karandlaje and sought an adjournment. The case accepted his request and adjourned the case to 5th September.
In her affidavit, Karandlaje said that she made the comments without any intention to hurt the sentiments and feelings of the people of Tamil Nadu. She added that after realizing that her comments had hurt the sentiments of the people of the State, she retracted the statement and also tendered a profound apology. Karandlajea added that she had the highest respect and regard to the people of Tamil Nadu.
“I state that I have the highest respect and regard to the history, rich culture, tradition and to the people of Tamil Nadu and I had or have no intention whatsoever to hurt the sentiments of people of Tamil Nadu by any conduct of mine. Hence, I hereby once again tender my apology to the people of Tamil Nadu for having caused any hurt from my comments. The same may kindly be taken on record in the interest of justice,” Karandlaje said.
When the matter was taken up previously, Senior Advocate Aruna Shyam, appearing for Karandlaje told the court that apart from filing an affidavit apologizing for the comments, Karandlaje would also contest the case on merits. It was submitted that to attract the offences alleged against Karandlaje, “intention” was paramount which was absent in the present case.
Though the State had previously informed the court that they would not object to quashing if Karandlaje held a press conference and apologized for her remarks, Karandlaje expressed certain reservations about the State's draft apology.
Case Title: Shobha Karandlaje v State
Case No: Crl OP (MD) 9875 of 2024
