Communal incidents have hurt our government: Siddaramaiah
Bengaluru (HT): Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah said on Monday the recent incidents of communal violence in Dakshina Kannada district, where an RSS member and Social Democratic Party of India worker were killed by unidentified men, had hurt the state government.
A member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Sharat Madiwala, was stabbed on July 4 in BC Road, in Dakshina Kannada district, and succumbed to his wounds on July 8. On June 21, SDPI’s Ashraf Kalai was hacked to death in Bantwal in the district.
Speaking to reporters after meeting with top police officials in the city, Siddaramaiah, who also holds the home portfolio, said the incidents were being stoked by certain elements.
“For the past three months, incidents like stabbing have taken place in the district. Some organisations are involved in these incidents, and we need to keep a watch on communal goondas,” the chief minister said.
Siddarmaiah said the perpetrators of the violence had not yet been arrested and all efforts were being made to ensure that the law and order situation in the district returned to normal. “It does not matter if it is the Popular Front of India, the Sri Rama Sene, Bajrang Dal, RSS or the SDPI, we will take action,” he added.
Prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure have been in place in the district for over a week. Siddarmaiah said the police would come down on anybody who violates these orders.
“We will hold a peace meeting in the district, which has always been known as being peaceful, except recently,” Siddaramaiah said.
State unit president of the Congress G Parameshwara said that state Bharatiya Janata Party president BS Yeddyurappa must instruct the various wings of the Sangh Parivar to back down for peace to return to the district.
Prohibitory orders will be in force until July 11 in Puttur, Sullia, Belthangady and Bantwal in coastal Dakshina Kannada district following recent communal clashes in some areas, police earlier told news agency Press Trust of India.
The orders were initially enforced in Bantwal from May 27 following skirmishes between two groups. Later, it was extended to the four taluks as the violence spread. The murder of SDP’s Kalai at Benjanapadavu in Bantwal further escalated the tension forcing authorities to extend prohibitory orders.
Need of the hour is political party should not involve in religion issues as its a very sensitive and disturb the peace. Politicians only compete with pro-people activities and developments and on that basis contest the election and people will decide the fate !!