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Bus burning: culprits will be firmly dealt with, says M.P. Prakash

— Photo: Bhagya Prakash K.

Protection: Policemen standing guard outside the residence of Selvi, daughter of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, in Bangalore on Thursday.

Bangalore: The State Government has assured the Union Government and the Government of Tamil Nadu that the people arrested by the Bangalore police, identified as activists of Bajrang Dal and the Sri Rama Sene, would be dealt with seriously.

Minister for Home, Law and Parliamentary Affairs, M.P. Prakash, told The Hindu here on Thursday that the State police, and in particular the Bangalore police, had been clearly told that they should thoroughly investigate the case and arrest the culprits. “The police have been told that they are at liberty to take serious action and that there will be no interference from the Government whatsoever.”

Mr. Prakash said he was in touch with Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi on the steps being taken by the State police.

“I assured Mr. Karunanidhi and Mr. Patil that quick action will be taken to arrest the culprits, and I compliment the Bangalore police on their speedy investigation.”

Mr. Prakash said, “If a section of the people has any grievance, they can represent to the Government. It will, however, not tolerate any dastardly and cowardly acts as witnessed on Tuesday night.”

The Home Minister said Tamil Nadu Minister Veeraswamy was also in touch with him in connection with the steps being taken to take care of the people injured in the attack. “The Karnataka Government will pay a compensation of Rs. 1 lakh to the kin of each of the victims. Both bodies were charred beyond recognition.”

The Bharatiya Janata Party, however, stuck to the stand that Hindu organisations such as the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal were not involved in the torching of the Tamil Nadu bus and the attack on the house of Mr. Karunanidhi’s daughter in Bangalore.

BJP spokesman S. Suresh Kumar said on Thursday that the chiefs of these organisations had already denied their role in the incidents.

“These organisations would never indulge in inhuman activities like torching of bus leading to death of two people,” he said. He urged the police to do a “professional job” and to arrest the “real culprits”.

“The police should not buckle under pressure being generated to brand the above organisations as culprits in this episode,” he said.

Mr. Suresh Kumar condemned the incidents as inhuman and said the BJP would oppose any act of violence.The BJP Yuva Morcha has, in the meanwhile, demanded that Mr. Karunanidhi step down as Chief Minister and take political retirement. In a press release, morcha president S. Harish called Mr. Karunanidhi’s statement “thoughtless” and “provocative”.

Mangalore Staff Correspondent reports:

Mahendra Kumar, State convener of Bajrang Dal, has rejected the charge on the alleged involvement of his outfit in the attack on the house of the daughter of Mr. Karunanidhi and the burning of an SETC bus.

“The cases have no connection with Bajrang Dal and we strongly condemn the dastardly acts,” Mr. Mahendra Kumar said. He criticised Mr. Karunanidhi for showing disrespect to Lord Rama.

Earlier, addressing presspersons, Jagadish Shenava, convener of Sri Rameshwara Sri Rama Sethu Rakshana Samiti sought an unconditional apology from the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister for his remarks on Lord Rama and the Rama Sethu.

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