Communal violence at its peak under BJP rule in Karnataka: Congress leader B Ramanath Rai
Mangaluru, Dec 5: Communal violence has risen to its peak under the BJP rule in Karnataka and murders based on religion have become the order of the day, Congress leader Ramanath Rai alleged on Monday.
Addressing reporters here, he said the ruling party should own responsibility for turning Dakshina Kannada district into a "hotbed of communal politics".
He said none of the Congress leaders or workers appear in the FIRs registered in cases of communal violence in the district. Those responsible for community-based murders are roaming freely under the BJP dispensation, he alleged.
Rai said strict legal action should be taken against those who are behind murders based on religion disregarding their political affiliations.
A special investigation team (SIT) should be formed to probe such murders, he said.
The Congress leader took exception to the reported statement of BJP national secretary C T Ravi defending the inclusion of rowdy-sheeters in their party, saying it is natural that political leaders will be facing cases.
By his statements, Ravi has exposed the true colours and ideology of his party, the Congress leader said.
Rai was a minister in then CM Siddaramaiah's cabinet between 2013 to 2018.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Conspiracy afoot to 'tarnish' image of Dharmasthala: Deputy CM DK Shivakumar
Bengaluru, Aug 14 (PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Thursday said there was a “conspiracy” to tarnish the image of Dharmasthala.
His comments come amid an ongoing investigation by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) into serious allegations of mass burials in the revered temple town in Dakshina Kannada district.
“A conspiracy is being hatched to destroy hundreds of years of legacy. It is not correct to tarnish someone just like that. It has all happened due to one complainant,” he said.
Noting that some Congress MLAs have called for action against those involved in the slander campaign at the legislature party meeting, he said, “ I have told them that action must be taken against those who are indulging in a slander campaign. The CM has also said that action must be taken against such people.”
“I have information on this case. Religious feelings should not be hurt in any manner. Culprits must be punished,” he told reporters, according to a release from his office.
Responding to a question, Shivakumar said the Congress party will not allow the image of any religious place to be tarnished.
“We see everyone equally when it comes to religion,” he added.
The SIT, formed by the state government, is probing claims of mass murder, rape, and mass burials in Dharmasthala over the past two decades.
The complainant, a former sanitation worker whose identity has not been revealed, alleged that between 1995 and 2014 he was forced to handle bodies—including women and minors—and that some showed signs of sexual assault. He has given a statement before a magistrate.
As part of the probe, the SIT has been conducting exhumations at multiple locations identified by the complainant-witness in the forested areas along the banks of the Netravathi River in Dharmasthala, where some skeletal remains have been found at two sites so far.
