Condemning the murder of Praveen Poojary (29), a Bharatiya Janata Party worker at Karjike in Udupi district on Wednesday allegedly by activists of the Hindu Jagarana Vedike for transporting cows, K. Rama Bhat, a former BJP leader, has said that the Sangh Parivar should “show the courage to own up its wrong-doing”.
Speaking to The Hindu over phone from Puttur on Friday, Mr. Bhat, a former BJP MLA who distanced himself from the party and floated the Swabhimani Vedike during 2008 Assembly elections, alleged that some Sangh Parivar activists were hand-in-glove in the illegal cattle trade.
Stating that any attack on cattle or cow transporters was wrong and that it should be condemned, he said that if there are any instances of illegal transportation of cattle, the police should be informed. “It is wrong to take the law into his one’s own hands,” he said.
Mr. Bhat said that some youths in the Sangh Parivar lacked guidance. There is a huge responsibility on the leaders of the Sangh Parivar to lead the youth on the right path. Mr. Bhat, who won from Puttur on BJP ticket in the 1983 election, distanced himself from the BJP and spoke against it in the 2008 election. Earlier, he won on Janata Party ticket in the 1978 election.
Muneer Katipalla, State president, Democratic Youth Federation of India, said that major political parties should have the will to curb attacks on cattle or cow transporters. He alleged that the Congress government had adopted a go-soft approach to handling such issues. Mr. Katipalla said that like-minded social organisations should come together to oppose such elements.
G. Hanumantha Kamath, social activist, said that the police should overcome political pressure to curb such incidents.
Meanwhile, the Dakshina Kannada District Congress Committee on Friday petitioned J. Arun Chakravarthy, Inspector-General of Police (Western Range), seeking strict action against the self-styled gau rakshaks.
The Congress condemned Wednesday’s murder.
