The BJP will stay away from a peace meeting of elected representatives of all parties and others called by B. Ramanath Rai, Minister in-charge of Dakshina Kannada, here on Thursday to restore communal harmony in the district.
Stating this at a press conference here on Wednesday, Nalin Kumar Kateel, MP, said that none of the elected representatives of the BJP would attend it as the State government has not arrested those who murdered RSS activist Sharath Madiwala last week.
Accusing Mr. Rai of being responsible for the communal trouble in Bantwal and Mangaluru Assembly constituencies, the MP said that Mr. Rai and U.T. Khader, Minister for Food and Civil Supplies representing Mangaluru, should either restore harmony or resign from their posts.
The MP said that it was the duty of the State government and the district in-charge Minister to maintain law and order. The Opposition parties would have to cooperate.
But Mr. Rai and the State government acted in a partisan manner while handling the situation, including booking cases against the accused since trouble broke out in Bantwal taluk on May 26.
He alleged that by booking cases against the Sangh Parivar leaders for stone-throwing during the funeral procession of the activist at BC Road on Saturday, the State government was creating an atmosphere of fear in the district.
Mr. Kateel alleged: “It (State) is a government of terrorists.”
He criticised Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for not visiting Sharath Madiwala in hospital in the city or enquire with doctors about his health during his [Mr. Siddaramaiah] visit to the city on Friday last.
Criticising P. Harishekaran, Inspector-General of Police (Western Range), for reportedly issuing shooting orders against those who tried to speed away from check-points on roads, Mr. Kateel said that the duty of police was first to protect people.
He said that Mr. Rai was appeasing a certain section of society for the sake of votes in his constituency. The district in-charge Minister fears that he would lose the next Assembly election, as the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) is expected to take away the Congress votes.
