BJP to press for NIA probe into 24 murders, including Sharath’s

Yeddyurappa, party MPs to meet Rajnath Singh on Sunday

BJP State unit president B.S. Yeddyurappa addressing a protest meet organised by the BJP Mahila Morcha at the Town Hall in Mangaluru on Thursday.

President of the State unit of the BJP B.S. Yeddyurappa said here on Thursday that he, along with party MPs and other leaders, will meet Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh in Delhi on Sunday and press for a probe by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) into the 24 murders of Sangh Parivar activists in the State, including the one reported in BC Road on July 4.

Talking to reporters here on Thursday, Mr. Yeddyurappa said that these 24 murders of the Sangh Parivar activists have been reported after the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government came to power. The accused in these murders have not been arrested and they were moving about freely, he said.

“We have all spoken to Mr. Singh. We will meet him and also the Prime Minister and press for an investigation by the NIA,” he said.

He alleged that K.C. Venugopal, Congress in-charge of Karnataka, was prompting Kerala-like communal murders in the State. “Mr. Venugopal and Mr. Siddaramaiah are in an illusion that they can win the forthcoming Assembly elections by sowing the seeds of hatred among electorate,” he said and added that this will not work and the Congress will bite the dust in the forthcoming elections.

Earlier, Mr. Yeddyurappa addressed a protest meeting at the Town Hall organised by the BJP Mahila Morcha seeking the arrest of those who murdered RSS activist Sharath Madiwala in BC Road on July 4.

Mr. Yeddyurappa said that the State would be “under fire” [State-wide protests], if the police arrested RSS leader Kalladka Prabhakara Bhat in connection with communal incidents in Bantwal taluk.

At the press conference, Mr. Yeddyurappa clarified that “under fire” meant there would be State-wide protests if Mr. Bhat was arrested.

Mr. Yeddyurappa said in the meeting that the Congress government will pay for acting against the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and Sangh Parivar activists, who have devoted their lives for the country’s development.

Asking party workers to be patient and not lose their cool, Mr. Yeddyurpapa said, “Do not disturb peace. We are close to gaining power back in the State.”

MP Shobha Karandlaje, Nalin Kumar Kateel, and MLC Ganesh Karnik spoke.

Earlier, Mr. Yeddyurappa met Taniyappa Madiwala, father of Sharath Madiwala, at his house in Sajipa in Bantwal taluk and consoled the family members.