The allegation levelled by the former Minister C.T. Ravi, MLA, that Congress leader Feroz N. Sait, MLA, was responsible for the recent eruption of communal violence here, has boomeranged with Mr. Sait’s supporters seeking action against Mr. Ravi.
However, Mr. Sait, who represents Belagavi North Assembly constituency, is yet to react to the allegation.
Residents of the constituency, including those from Hanuman Nagar, Gandhi Nagar and Mahantesh Nagar, took out a procession under the banner of ‘Sarvadharmagala Vedike’ on Thursday and shouted slogans against BJP leaders for fuelling fundamentalist passions and widening the gap between two communities at the expense of peace and communal harmony, to serve their political interests. They expressed solidarity with Mr. Sait.
They submitted a memorandum addressed to the Governor to the Deputy Commissioner demanding action against BJP leaders for sowing the seeds of hatred among religious communities. They said that Mr. Sait had been working for the development of his constituency without discrimination, which some of his political rivals were unable to appreciate. Therefore, they were trying to indict him with false allegations, they said. Diwakar Deshpande, Santosh Parwatrao and Dalit Sangharsha Samiti leader Mallesh Chougule led the protest. Raju Sait, Younger brother of Mr. Sait, was also present.
Mr. Ravi heads the a fact-finding committee set up by the BJP on the recent incidents of communal violence in Belagavi and other districts of North Karnataka. On Monday, he visited few affected areas in Belagavi North Assembly constituency and held Mr. Sait responsible for attacks on Hindu families.
They seek action against C.T. Ravi for levelling allegations against the MLA