Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SB)

Mangaluru, Jan 11: "BJP national president Amit Shah is coming again and again to Karnataka and instructing his party leaders and members to create unrest and violence here. He is telling them to stage blockade of roads and provoke police force to open lathi charge. He is like a ‘Shakuni’ and mastermind of the communal violence in Karnataka. If he continues to visit the state with ulterior motives, Congress members will organize protests at his programme venues," warned MLC Ivan D’Souza, chief whip of state Legislative Council.

Addressing a press meet at the district Congress office here on Thursday, January 10, he said, "Amit Shah knows that with debates of development and opposition party’s performance, BJP will not win the upcoming elections. So out of desperation, he is urging his leaders to divide Karnataka on communal lines. It is not just an allegation but the reality. BJP leaders themselves told about this. As per his instructions, the BJP leaders like Anant Kumar Hegde, Shobha Karandlaje, Pratap Simha are talking about setting fire in state. They all are busy with irresponsible and communal minded statements.”

“The people of Karnataka will not fall for his words or BJP's trap communal tactics. They appreciate Siddaramaiah and his work. The 4 years and 8 months of Congress government has won the hearts of the citizens of Karnataka. Yeddyurappa and his team are sitting with empty hands because they do not have any points to criticize this government on.

"Amit Shah is visiting here at regular intervals with hate agenda and if someone asks about central government's grants to Karnataka, he behaves as if he is giving grants from BJP's fund. It is tax payer's money and states are eligible to receive it. There also we can see partiality. As a drought relief, we asked Rs 4,000 crore with the central government, but on Rs 1,325 crore was sanctioned. Same time, Maharashtra demanded Rs 5,000 crore and the centre sanctioned Rs 6,000 crore," he added.

An amount of Rs 4,15,000 as aid from Chief Minister's Relief Fund was distributed to the beneficiaries.

Former interim president Ibrahim Kodijal, leaders Cyril D Souza, Arif Bava, Sathish were present.