Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council V.S. Ugrappa on Thursday condemned the attack on a church at Hebbugodi, near Anekal, and demanded immediate action against the guilty.
Speaking to presspersons before the commencement of the legislature session, Mr. Ugrappa also charged the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Government in the State with violating the Supreme Court’s direction to maintain status quo at Bababudangiri.
He alleged that the Government commenced a Rs. 2.09-crore project to develop Bababudangiri. While launching the programme, the authorities installed an idol of Dattatreya and performed puja despite a ban on such religious traditions. All the office-bearers of the BJP’s Chikmagalur district unit were present when such a violation of the court order took place, he said.
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Mr. Ugrappa alleged that both the attack on church and the violation of the court order at Bababudangiri indicated that efforts were on to create a fear psychosis among minorities in the State.
Mr. Ugrappa maintained that the two episodes vindicated the remarks of Governor H.R. Bhardwaj who had expressed unhappiness over the law and order situation in the State.
The Congress leader pointed out that the incidents occurred close on the heels of the Government “attacking” the Governor for expressing his views instead of trying to take it in a positive spirit.
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“If the Government has any commitment to upholding secular values and protecting communal harmony, it should protect all communities and desist from creating a fear psychosis among minorities,” Mr. Ugrappa said. He demanded security to prayer halls of all communities.
Mr. Ugrappa said he was commenting on these episodes outside the Legislative Council as the Government had decided against allowing discussion on any other issue, barring rural development, at the session.