Basavaraj Bommai, Siddaramaiah Twitter War Over Karnataka Moral Policing

In recent times, the Dakshina Kannada district has seen several cases of young people from differing faiths socialising being confronted, threatened or attacked by right-wing activists.

A bitter battle is being fought on Twitter between Karnataka's current and former Chief Ministers - Basavaraj Bommai and Siddaramaiah - with Siddaramaiah slamming Mr Bommai for his statement in Mangaluru that moral policing is "action and reaction" caused by "hurt sentiments". In recent weeks, the Dakshina Kannada district has seen several cases of young people from differing faiths socialising being confronted, threatened, or attacked by right-wing activists.

Basavaraj Bommai, asked about the moral policing in Mangaluru, had said, "It is a very delicate issue. We all have to take responsibility. There are so many feelings in society. We have to live in such a way that those sentiments are not hurt. When those feelings are hurt there will be action and reaction. Everyone should cooperate. Some young people take it upon themselves... they should not hurt the moral sentiments of society. It is a social issue. There should be morality in society. Can we live without morality? We must have moral responsibility.

The Chief Minister's remark was seen by critics as being soft on issues of moral policing and people taking the law into their own hands following several such instances in recent weeks.

"You have accepted your incapability to maintain law & order by justifying moral policing by few anti-social elements. Please resign & save Karnataka!! #MoralPolicing," Siddaramaiah had said in a series of tweets, tagging the Chief Minister.