Three Congress leaders — Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President R.V. Deshpande, Working President D.K. Shivakumar and former Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council V.S. Ugrappa on Tuesday demanded the resignation of Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa following the indictment of the Sangh Parivar by the B.K. Somasekhara Commission of Inquiry, which conducted a probe into the attacks on churches across 13 districts in 2008.
They urged Governor H.R. Bhardwaj to dismiss the Bharatiya Janata Party Government for its alleged failure to safeguard the minorities and weaker sections in the State. They urged that all communal organisations such as the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, the Bajrang Dal and the Sri Rama Sene be banned for their alleged attacks on churches, and their leaders be put behind bars.
They said the indictment exposed the parivar and the Yeddyurappa Government, which tried to malign the Opposition parties.
Mr. Shivakumar urged Mr. Yeddyurappa to keep to his words about asking people to cut off the hands of those who indulged in the attack on churches, after the indictment of the police for their direct and indirect support to such acts by the commission.
In Udupi, member of the State Secretariat of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) G.V. Sriram Reddy said the State Government should take immediate legal action against the accused involved in the church attacks.
Addressing presspersons here, Mr. Reddy said when churches were attacked , Home Minister V.S. Acharya said that it was not possible for the State Government to provide protection to them. This was a totally irresponsible statement. “Mr. Acharya should resign,” he said.
