Daijiworld Media Network - Hassan (RJP)
Hassan, Feb 14: Tension prevailed for sometime here on Wednesday, February 14, when JD(S) workers resorted to stone pelting at the house of BJP MLA Preetham Gowda which resulted in injury to a BJP worker. Before that BJP and JD(S) workers fought openly in public.
The injured person is Rahul Kini, a supporter of Preetham Gowda.
Rahul is being treated at the district hospital.
The cause behind the tension is said to be the controversial remarks made by Preetham Gowda, the lone BJP MLA in the JD(S) dominant Hassan district, in the audio clip released by chief minister H D Kumaraswamy.
Condemning the insensitive remarks of Preetham Gowda against JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda and Kumaraswamy in the audio clip, JD(S) supporters pelted stones at his house, when one of them hit Kini.
Preetham Gowda has allegedly said that the JD(S), which is a father-son party, will disintegrate once Deve Gowda, who is old, and Kumaraswamy, who is a heart patient, will die.
Hundreds of JD(S) workers took out a motorbike rally to protest against the MLA in the city on Wednesday. They demanded that Preetham Gowda should tender apology to Deve Gowda and Kumaraswamy.
When the JD(S) workers were returning after the protest rally, Preetham's supporters raised slogans in favour of the MLA. In reply, JD(S) men raised slogans against the MLA, resulting in a heated exchange of words. They tried to gain entry into the house of Preetham Gowda forcefully, but the police stopped them which resulted in chaos.
Meanwhile, a JD(S) worker pelted a stone at the door of the house, which injured Rahul Kini. The situation turned worse, with both the groups engaging in fist fight. The police had to intervene to bring the situation under control.
Speaking to reporters, Preetham's mother Nagarathna said the incident was politically motivated.
"The incident is created intentionally in view of the upcoming elections. District In-charge minister H D Revanna should ensure that such incidents do not take place. But we are not afraid of such threats. My son will not do anything wrong," she said.
BJP State president B S Yeddyurappa rushed to Hassan and said that BJP with all the 104 MLAs a will stand by Preetham Gowda.
"They will meet Governor Vajubhai Vala in Bengaluru on Thursday and lodge a complaint against the failure of Hassan SP Prakash Gowda in controlling the situation," he said.