Chief Minister Siddaramaiah lashed out at the Bharatiya Janata Party for “rupturing and tearing the fabric of the society by inciting violence for political gains.”
Speaking to presspersons here on Friday, Mr. Siddaramaiah accused the BJP for fomenting violence in Mangaluru. “BJP uses scissors to tear apart the social fabric and the Congress uses needles to sew and patch it up,” he said.
Taking exception to the Mangaluru MP Nalin Kumar Kateel and other BJP leaders boycotting the peace meeting held in Mangaluru, Mr. Siddaramaiah called it a display of immaturity and irresponsibility. “But they are not interested in dousing the flames or seek peace as violence and tension suits their political purpose,” he added.
The BJP has a tendency to stoke emotional issues and keep the communal flames smouldering for political gains, Mr. Siddaramaiah said, adding that the situation in Mangaluru was fully under control.
Senior police officers of the State have visited Mangaluru and taken measures to thwart any fresh outbreak of violence, said Mr. Siddaramaiah. “I have issued strict orders that trouble makers irrespective of their affiliations – Popular Front of India, SDPI, Srirama Sene, Bajrang Dal or RSS – should not be spared if found fomenting violence,” he said, adding that the State was keeping a watch on their activities.
Refuting the statements of the Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Nirmala Sitharaman that the law and order situation in the State had weakened and would affect investments, Mr. Siddaramaiah said it applies to Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and other BJP-ruled States.
Mr. Siddaramaiah is in the district to inaugurate a slew of development works in the region and is accompanied by the PWD Minister H.C. Mahadevappa, Irrigation Minister M.B. Patil, Chamarajanagar MP R. Dhruvanarayan among others.
