Law & order has deteriorated in a big way in K'taka, Cong govt has lost moral right to govern: BJP
Bengaluru, Aug 23: Alleging that law and order in Karnataka had deteriorated in a big way and incidents of murders, extortion and rapes have become rampant, the state BJP on Saturday claimed the situation after the Congress government coming to power is such that criminals don't fear the police.
Also claiming that drug mafias were growing and a jihadi mindset is expanding in Karnataka, the principal opposition party also said the Congress government had lost the moral right to govern the state.
The attack against the government on the law and order situation comes in the wake of a 24-year-old woman being allegedly kidnapped, drugged and raped after being taken to a secluded place in Karkala in Udupi district.
The incident was reported from Karkala town police station limits on the night of August 23, police said, adding two persons have been arrested in connection with the case.
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"The law and order situation has deteriorated in the state in a big way, after this (Congress) government came to power there is a situation where there is no fear of police. Incidents of murders, extortion and rapes are increasing daily," BJP's state BJP General Secretary and Karkala MLA Sunil Kumar said.
Speaking to reporters here, he said, at the time when the drug mafias are growing, jihadi mindsets are expanding, leaving aside politics, the government should come forward to save women and girls.
"Don't know what the priority of the Chief Minister is. If saving his seat is his priority, no one can do anything. When such incidents are occurring daily in the state and when the people are in fear, along with installing courage in them, especially among the womenfolk, the Chief Minister and the government should have given a clear warning to the people," Kumar further said in response to a question.
"If the government can't send a warning message to the criminals. What message does the government's silence send?" he questioned and said the situation is that criminals don't have fear of the police.
Terming the incident where a 24-year-old woman was allegedly kidnapped, drugged and raped as "condemnable and a satanic act", the BJP leader said, "How did the drug reach the hands of the accused? Who is behind it?"
Noting that when Neha Hiremath was murdered in Hubballi earlier this year and allegations of "love jihad" surfaced, the Chief Minister and Home Minister had rejected it, he asked, "Which forces are behind this incident? The government and district administration has to make it public, and all those forces behind it should be punished by the police."
Demanding that the government had to bear the expenses of the victim's treatment, he said the administration has to give her courage and protection to her family.
Leader of Opposition in Legislative Assembly R Ashoka too alleged that under the Congress government there was no protection for Hindus, as rape and murders have become repeated occurences and such cases are covered up.
Citing recent incidents in Haveri, Hubballi and now Karkala, he said, "such incidents have become a daily occurrence...Law and order has deteriorated and the Congress has lost the moral right to govern the state."
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Ruckus outside counting centre in Mamata's constituency, TMC claims entry of car with BJP flag
Kolkata (PTI): The counting centre at West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's Bhabanipur assembly constituency witnessed a ruckus a day ahead of the counting of votes, with TMC workers alleging two cars bearing the BJP's flag were allowed entry to the compound where EVMs are kept.
The incident comes close on the heels of a four-hour-long sit-in by Banerjee in front of the same counting centre at the Sakhawat Memorial Girls School on Thursday night, alleging unauthorised entry of persons into the strongroom.
With the polling now over, the wrangling for power in West Bengal has turned into a battle of nerves between the incumbent TMC and the BJP. Workers and leaders of both parties have been keeping a steely gaze on the security of strongrooms across the state where the electoral fate of the candidates is sealed.
Despite expressing her confidence in a "landslide victory", Banerjee has repeatedly aired her apprehensions of "counting malpractice and EVM tampering ahead of the day of results".
On Sunday morning, TMC workers camping 100 metres from the counting centre alleged that two cars with BJP flags entered the premises and went near the strongroom.
"The CAPF personnel at the spot are not allowing any vehicle or person to enter the premises of the counting centre without valid identity proof. Then how come this car, which we have not seen in the past few days, was allowed entry? Once we protested, the central forces asked us to move 100 metres away," a TMC activist said.
The TMC claimed that while the police personnel posted there promised the vehicle would be removed from the spot, it remained there for some time.
A senior Election Commission official said the car was passing by the Harish Mukherjee Road, and after checking by security forces and police, it was allowed to leave as nothing objectionable was found in it.
On Thursday night, two counting centres, including one at Sakhawat Memorial Girls School in the city, witnessed high drama after TMC leaders alleged a lack of transparency and possible malpractice at the strongrooms housing sealed EVMs of the assembly polls, which concluded on April 29.
TMC leaders and candidates, Sashi Panja and Kunal Ghosh, held a sit-in outside the Khudiram Anushilan Kendra counting centre on Thursday evening, alleging unauthorised activities inside the strongroom amid the absence of TMC agents
In Howrah, TMC protested renovation work by the public works department at a place adjacent to the strongroom, and the EC stopped the work temporarily.
On Saturday, the ruling party filed a complaint with the poll panel, alleging unauthorised sorting of postal ballot covers at the EVM strongroom in Khudiram Anushilan Kendra.
Similar scenes were witnessed on Saturday outside the strongrooms at Asansol College in Paschim Bardhaman and the Barasat Government College in North 24 Parganas districts, where TMC workers held protests, alleging that CCTV cameras were switched off for several minutes.
The EC turned down all allegations, saying the surveillance cameras were working in an uninterrupted manner.
BJP spokesperson Sajal Ghosh told reporters that the people of Bengal were finding it "hilarious" that the TMC, "which used to win elections through unfair means and strongarm tactics" were now coming up with all sorts of "frivolous charges".
"Are they scared of losing?" he posed.
