Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network- Mangaluru (ANK)
Mangaluru, Jun 20: District BJP president Sanjeeva Matandoor on Tuesday June 20 said that the BJP will hold a huge protest seeking the resignation of district in-charge minister Ramanath Rai for reportedly instructing the police to arrest RSS leader Dr Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat for the recent clashes in Kalladka.
Addressing a press meet here, Matandoor said, "People in Dakshina Kannada district are educated but the recent act of district in-charge minister Ramanath Rai has forced people to bow down their heads in shame. This is a shameful act by Ramanath Rai. If he is responsible enough, he would have made fair decisions to ensure that the real culprits are behind the bars, but today the whole political arena is against Rai for his inflammatory remarks."
He further said, "The media is frequently highlighting the video which has surfaced which purportedly shows Rai directing the Dakshina Kannada SP Bhushan Borase to arrest the RSS leader. Rai should have maintained peace in his Bantwal constituency, instead he instigated Kalladka clashes for the purpose of vote-bank. Being a district in-charge minister his responsibility was to call for a peace meeting, review the law and order of the district and take certain concrete measure to restrain such clashes in Kalladka, but he utterly failed to do so.
"Ramanath Rai ordered superintendent of police Bhushan Borase to arrest Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat under section 307 and he was caught interfering in the police work. Rai needs to think before he speaks against Dr Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat who must be respected for his seniority and the contribution that he has made in the field of education and religion, which Ramanath Rai has forgotten," he said.
"BJP strongly feels that Ramanath Rai is frequently encouraging communal forces such as KFD, SDPI for the purpose of vote bank. Rai has no concern towards the district and about the ongoing problems in the district. SP Bhushan Borase had mentioned that personal rivalry triggered the murder at Jaleel Karopady but Rai claimed the role of RSS and Sangh Parivar behind Karopaady's murder, which indicates that Rai does not have any faith in the police department. It is better for Ramanath Rai to resign from his post.
"BJP had earlier mentioned about the drug and sand mafia in the district but Ramanath Rai preferred to be silent on the issue. Rai has always wanted the police department to be under his clutches and be the agent of Congress. Rai needs to resign from the cabinet for his irresponsible act.
"We demand a CBI enquiry into the issues looming around the district including sand and drug mafia. Since we have no faith on ACB or Lokayukta which come under the state government, it is impossible to seek justice in any of these cases," Matandoor said.
Yeddyurappa to take part in the protest
BJP state president Yeddyurappa will take part in the massive protest which is scheduled to be held on June 24 at BC Road against Ramanath Rai for his alleged remarks against Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat.
BrijeshChowta, Yogesh Bhat, Kishore Rai and others were present at the press meet.