From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Jan 27: Coming down heavily against the Siddaramaiah regime for practising "crass minority appeasement and vote bank politics," BJP State General Secretary Shobha Karandlaje on Saturday demanded immediate withdrawal of the letter issued by the DG & IGP for withdrawal of cases filed against innocent "minorities" in communal incidents.
"Never before in the political history of India as well as Karnataka did any government, including Congress, have put such a dangerous precedence which is grossly communal and which has potential to disturb law, order, peace and tranquillity. This is unacceptable," Karandlaje said.
Addressing media persons in Bengaluru, the Udupi-Chikmagaluru MP hastened to clarify that the BJP was not against minorities but was opposed to this kind of bifurcating the accused on communal lines.
File Photo
"Every government in the past had withdrawn cases filed against Kannada activists and farmers. That is the prerogative of the cabinet. But it was not on the basis of majority or minority," she said pointing out that in the present case, the DG & IGP circular clearly states that the cases filed against minorities need to be withdrawn.
"This is totally deplorable," she said.
When her attention was drawn to the statement made by Home Minister B Ramalinga Reddy that the BJP government too had withdrawn certain cases in the past, Karandlaje said withdrawal of cases against farmers or Kannada activists was entirely different issue.
Shobha Karandlaje further maintained that the circular stands testimony to the Congress government’s blatant and naked misuse of the police machinery to further its political and electoral ends.
"BJP’s charge was that the state government was misusing the police. We stand vindicated going by this explosive circular," the BJP general secretary added.
Shobha Karandlaje said: "If the Congress government headed by Siddaramaiah does not withdraw this controversial circular that puts a bad and dangerous precedence, then this is going to prove the proverbial last nail on the Congress party’s coffin in the State."
"It looks like that somebody has given supari to Siddaramaiah to finish off Congress," she quipped and said the Chief Minister is helping BJP to achieve its mission of Congress-mukt Bharat.
The attempt to project only minorities as innocent is deplorable. This goes against the oath taken by the chief minister that he will do justice and provide equality to all sections of society without bias or discrimination, she said.
"Siddaramaiah government has gone against the Constitutional provisions. The vote bank politics and minority appeasement of the Congress is also one of the important reasons for the people to reject the country’s grand old party in the hustings.
"People will teach a befitting lesson to the Congress party in general and Siddaramaiah in particular for this pervert and illogical decision," she said.
Shobha Karandlaje rubbished the claim of Siddaramaiah that Amit Shah’s criticism of Karnataka Chief Minister by a Gujarati would not be tolerated by the Kannadiga people.
"Amit Shah has spoken in his capacity as the national president of a national party and not in his capacity as a Gujarati. Moreover, he has chosen out-and-out Kannadiga, the real son of the soil, B S Yeddyurappa as the chief ministerial candidate," she said adding: "Siddaramaiah’s attempt to make Kannada pride as an electoral issue will fail."
"The pride and prestige of Kannadigas, the life and property of the people of Karunadu, the reputation and image of Karnataka have suffered an enormous damage under Siddaramaiah and the people of Karnataka will punish the Congress government in the coming assembly elections," she warned.