Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Dec 24: After Mangaluru police released CCTV footage of the violence that hit anti-CAA protests in the city on December 19, Karnataka home minister Basavaraj Bommai reiterated his stance that people from Kerala were involved in the violence, and that it was an 'an organized plan'.
“There are visuals on how stones were pelted in a big way, how people covered their faces and sabotaged CCTV cameras, how there was an organized looting, how bricks meant for construction were used, how petrol bombs were also used...everyone has seen the videos,” Bommai told the media.
He also informed that the Karnataka government has ordered a magisterial inquiry by Udupi deputy commissioner G Jagdish. The government has also ordered a probe by the Criminal Investigation Department. "The Udupi DC has been given magisterial powers. He will inquire into all aspects - what happened that day, what led to the open firing and so on. It’ll be a comprehensive probe," Bommai said.
He also questioned as to how one could call the protesters 'innocent', and added that the opposition were responsible for inciting people. “It was pre-planned and there was a backing for these ‘innocents’. Why did politicians from Kerala come? Whom did they want to protect? There were people who came to Mangaluru 2-3 days before the protest. The probe will reveal everything,” he said.
Reacting to former CM Siddaramaiah’s statements that BJP was responsible for open firing, Bommai said that the ruling government has not given clean chit to anyone. "However, Siddaramaiah has given ‘clean chit’ to those who pelted stones and started fires," he said.
Meanwhile, Mangaluru constituency MLA U T Khader asked if the CM and home minister both claim to have not ordered firing, then who did? "Is the police not under their control? There seems to be a conspiracy within the BJP to bring down Yediyurappa. A judicial probe by a sitting judge will make matters clear," he said.