Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SB)
Mangaluru, Feb 18: MP and BJP leader Nalin Kumar Kateel on Sunday February 18 hit back at food minister U T Khader for his remarks on BJP national president Amit Shah's visit to the district, and said that he should give lessons on communal harmony to chief mnister Siddaramaiah instead.
U T Khader had in a recent press meet advised BJP national president Amit Shah not to resort to communal politics during his scheduled visit to the district on Monday February 19.
Addressing a press meet here on Sunday, Nalin Kateel said, "Even before the visit of BJP national president Amit Shah to Karnataka, the Congress party in the state has accepted defeat. The Congress leaders in Dakshina Kannada have already surrendered, so now they are engaged in making senseless comments," said MP and BJP leader Nalin Kumar Kateel.
"U T Khader has advised Amit Shah to not make any attempts to spark communal violence during his visit to the district. We (BJP) want to remind Khader that all incidents of communal violence happened in the state and the district only during the reign of the Congress government.
"The major incidents of communal disturbances, particularly the one in Suratkal and the three-day long Mangaluru bandh all happened with the Congress in power. After Khader became minister, a number of double murders happened in the district. Whereever chief minister Siddaramaiah visits, communal violence erupts. He came to Mangaluru, and Sharath was murdered. He went to Uttar Karnataka, and Paresh Mesta was killed. When he was in Bengaluru, Rudresh was murdered. When he visited Mysuru, peace was disturbed there. Hence, it is better that Khader gives lessons on communal harmony to Siddaramaiah," he said.
On Amit Shah's visit, he said, "We will begin our preparations for the Assembly elections with the visit of our party's national president. The preparation will start from booth levels. We are confident of winning all the eight constituencies in the district, so we are not much worried about whom to give ticket. Now our plans are only about how to increase the winning margin. There is a strong wave against the Congress in the district. It is better that they (Congress) close their tents right now.
"Amit Shah will arrive at Mangaluru airport on February 19 at around 5:30 pm, after which he will attend a small welcome programme organized by the district BJP committee at Kenjar. He will then travel to Subrahmanya. On February 20, he will address members of Navachetana at Vivekananda College, after which he will return to Mangaluru and visit slain Deepak Rao's house. He will then address the media at Suraj International Hotel in Suratkal and participate in a public programme of BJP fisherman association," Nalin added.
BJP district president Sanjeev Matandoor, former MLC Monappa Bhandary, Vedavyas Kamath and others were present.