New Delhi, Sep 2 (IANS): The Congress on Wednesday said the murder of Kannada scholar M.M. Kalburgi pointed towards a larger conspiracy aimed at eliminating rationalist leaders.

"Going by reports, there is a striking similarity in the murders of Narendra Dabholkar, Govind Pansare and M.M. Kalburgi. All of them were active rationalists. They wrote and spoke openly against irrational superstition and tried to promote scientific temper, spirit of inquiry and reform," Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said in a statement.

"The facts emerging out of police investigation into the murder of rationalist M.M. Kalburgi point towards a larger conspiracy aimed at eliminating rationalists," he said.

Surjewala said: "The role of Bajrang Dal becomes justifiably suspect. Bajrang Dal activist Bhuvith Shetty sent out a tweet soon after Kalburgi's murder threatening that writer K.S. Bhagwan was the 'next' target."

"The RSS has always indulged in violent measures to eliminate those who have opposed their views," he said.

The Congress leader said the party condemns any act by extremist organisations aimed at violently suppressing independent voices.