Mangalore: Eshwarappa demands probe into Kalladka clash, says Rai should resign
Pics: Meryick D’Silva
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (DV)
Mangalore, Mar 11: "The Kalladka incident occurred in the presence of district-in-charge minister B Ramantha Rai. Hence, the chief minister and the home minister should ask him to resign," said state BJP leader and former deputy chief minister K S Eshwarappa.
He was addressing a press meet at the district BJP office on Tuesday March 11. He was referring the clashes that erupted between Sangh Parivar members and Congress party workers during a Congress harmony convention at Kalladka on March 8.
Eshwarappa further said, "Congress has been successful in creating panic and giving indirect warnings to the opposition through 'goondagiri' in this incident. The convention for social harmony should have been organized by taking everyone into consideration but this was held for targeting Dr Prabakar Bhat."
"Despite knowing Kalladka is a sensitive area, no proper security was deployed. Police also failed to provide proper security to the people and arrested innocents. Under whose pressure are the police acting in this manner? The police barged into houses in Kalladka, while there were women inside and arrested innocents. Moreover, when the police arrested the criminals, they were let out within half-an-hour. Even the police were transferred for arresting the miscreants. What type of democracy is this?" he lambasted.
"We had been to a few houses in Kalladka and people there are fuming against the Congress. No one can accept this type of attitude. We had also visited the jail where innocents like tailors and coolies arrested in this incident are lodged. Moreover, already 307 IPC section is imposed on 25 youths."
"We demand a judicial probe monitored by a retired judge into this matter. Once the judicial probe is conducted, the truth will be out. If we have committed mistakes let them take action according to the law. People will come to know who was at fault. I am not favouring anyone. But judicial probe should be conducted into this matter," he added.
When a reporter asked about Janardhana Poojary’s challenge to BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi to contest the elections from Dakshina Kannada, Eshwarappa said, "Poojary’s influence can be seen in the rejection of Harsha Moily’s nomination. What capacity does Poojary have to compete with Modi?"
On Poojary’s dig at Modi's marital status , Eshwarappa said, "I respect Janardhana Poojary as he is a veteran politician but he should not involve in cheap politics by digging up someone’s personal matter."
On Yettinahole project, he said, "No political party can take a decision on this issue. The government should solve the problem by studying it carefully."
"Tomorrow, the party election committee will gather in Bangalore and the day after, the final list of candidates in the remaining six constituencies will be announced," he added.
On this occasion, BJP district president Pratap Simha Nayak and MP Nalin Kumar Kateel were present.
K S Eshwarappa visits arrested BJP activists at district jail
Earlier in the day, Eshwarappa visited Mangalore district jail and met the BJP activists who were arrested during the recent Kalladka clash.
Eshwarappa, who arrived in the city on Tuesday March 11, first visited the jail to meet the arrested BJP activists and later spoke to the jailor in his office.
However, when the media asked about his discussion with the jailor, he said that he would speak only at the press meet and proceeded to Kalladka to console the family members of those arrested and the victims of the clashes.
MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, MLC Capt Ganesh Karnik, former minister B Nagaraj Shetty, state working member Srikar Prabhu, party office-bearers Sulochana G K Bhat, and Rajesh Ulepady were present.