Daijiworld Media Network-Bengaluru (RJP)

Bengaluru, Nov 11: Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Praveen Togadia on Tuesday termed the killing of VHP leader in Madikeri as ‘brutal killing’ and asked the central government to protect the Hindus from religious intolerance.

Kuttappa (50), a VHP leader died in Madikeri after clashes erupted between two groups in relation to the celebrations of Tipu Jayanthi. Kuttappa was seriously injured in the clashes and admitted to hospital, where he breathed his last.

“VHP condemns the brutal killing of its leader in Karnataka. He was only staging a peaceful demonstration with others. He was killed by a violent mob. It was a brutal killing. I ask the central government to protect Hindus against such acts of religious intolerance”. Togadia said in a press statement issued from Allahabad.

Meanwhile BJP national secretary lashed out at Karnataka government over the death of a VHP leader in the violence. He termed Karnataka government’s response to the Hindutva outfit's protests as a "height of intolerance and insensitivity".

"There is a freedom to protest. The use of force by the Karnataka police against the protesters is the height of intolerance," said Sharma.

Sharma also condemned Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's statement, in which he had blamed the VHP's bandh call for the violence by saying "What he said is extremely insensitive."