Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Dec 17: In a twist of events, the widow of Yogesh Gowda, slain BJP zilla panchayat member from Dharwad, Mallamma, has put cold water on BJP's aspirations to capitalize on the issue of her husband's death by blaming it on Congress leaders. She has come out openly against BJP leaders, accusing them of harassing her and making use of her name for political gains. She said she is being mentally tortured by that party and announced her willingness to join hands with Congress.

The BJP leaders have been alleging involvement of Congress leaders in the murder of Yogesh Gowda.

"I am being hounded and harassed by political leaders and my own family members. Me and my children therefore need protection," she said in a plea presented to Karnataka State Women's Commission on Saturday December 16. Speaking to media persons later, she accused BJP leaders of trying to use her and the name of her husband for political oneupmanship. She accused BJP of spreading false rumour about her abduction, and clarified that she was not abducted. She said she will meet chief minister, Siddaramaiah, and if he invites, would join his party.

Mallamma said that having been distracted by the sudden death of her husband, she had gone to a naturopathy centre near Sirsi for treatment. She clarified that all these days she was not aware that her name was being dragged into politics by BJP.

President of the commission, Nalgalaxmi Bai, said that Mallamma has named four persons in the complaint and that notices would be served on them to appear before the commission. In the letter, Mallamma said that after the death of her husband, she had fought election under pressure from Seema Masuti and Basavaraj Koravara but lost the election by just four votes. She said that towards Rs 30 lac spent for the election, Amrit Desai got 21 guntas of her land transferred in his name and Basavaraj Koravara played a leading role in this transaction. She said her brother-in-law, Gurunatha Gowda, who belongs to BJP, has been pressurizing and threatening her not to speak to anyone. She also alleged that two out of her four children are being treatened and tortured by her relatives. She at the same time, has demanded that the killers of her husband should be punished and that some kind of financial security should be extended to her.

It is said that Isabella Xavier, member of Sadhana Human Rights Centre at Dharwad, who has been extending moral support to Mallamma, has been receiving threats against interfering in this issue.