From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Jul 11: With opposition BJP mounting a scathing attack on the Congress Governmeht in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly on Monday over the recent suicide of Deputy Superintendent of Police Ganapati and demanded the resignation of former Home Minister K J George, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah sought to turn the tables by alleging that the saffron party was targeting the Bangalore Development Minister because he belongs to the Christian minority community.
"We know your motives and BJP’s anti-minority attitudes and policies," Siddaramaiah said and pointed out that the BJP had earlier attacked two other ministers Qamarul Islam and Roshan Baig as they belonged to the Muslim minority community.
The Chief Minister said: "We know your motives. This kind of politics of communal polarisation will not work in Karnataka. We know what happened during your (BJP) rule in Mangalore and other places when churches and other places of religious worship were wantonly attacked and the people of Christian and Muslim minority communities were systematically targeted."
Opposition leader in the Assembly JagadishShettar, who raised the issue in the House, accused the Siddaramaiah regime of systematically sidelining, harassing the honest officers and forcing them to end their lives out of desperation.
Listing out the cases of assault on senior IAS officer Rashmi Mahesh, death of Sub Inspector MallikarjunBande, harassment to Inspector G N Mohan, the former BJP Chief Minister accused that there was no place for honest officers in Siddaramaiah government.
"Honest officers are harassed, transferred frequently and are dumped in dummy posts," Shettar said.
Referring to Ganapati's statement that former Home Minister George had harassed him, Shettar demanded George's resignation.
The Chief Minister lost his cool when Shettar termed the present government as the most thick skinned and alleged that transfer of officials had become a mechanism for collecting money.
He asked why Siddaramaiah's close confidant Mari Gowda has not been arrested so far even after Mysuru Deputy Commissioner Shikha filed a complaint more than a week ago.
"You(BJP) are targeting George from the day he was inducted into the ministry. You had also politically targetedQamarul Islam and Roshan Baig. We know your motives," Siddaramaiah said in retaliation.
Ruckus over Home Minister’s Statement
Home Minister Dr G Parameshwara’s two-page written statement that DySPGanapati’s suicide was "due to mental depression on account of ill-treatment by his wife Pavana," caused a furore in the House with the Opposition members alleging that the Government was trying to "divert public attention and mislead the people" and demanded withdrawal of the statement.
The two-page statement of Dr Parameshwara quoting from Ganapati'sfatherKushalappa's complaint to the police, said: "Ganapati's wife had neglected him when he was posted in Bengaluru, while his wife and children stayed in Mangaluru. Wife Pavana was ill-treating Ganapati even when after he was transferred to Mangaluru. There was no understanding between husband and wife. As a result Ganapati slipped into depression and that could have driven him to suicide."
Shettar objected to the statement of the Home Minister and termed it as a deliberate ploy to mislead the probe by blaming Ganapati's wife for his suicide. In the process, the State Government is trying to protect the real culprits who were responsible for his death, Shettar said.
The BJP leader demandedthe resignation of former Home Minister KJ George and filing FIR against IPS officers AM Prasad and Pronab Mohanty.
"The statement (of Dr Parameshwara) is an insult to not just Ganapati's wife Pavana, who had led a blissful married life with her husband, but an insult women of the entire state. State government is maligning the dignity of Ganapati's wife and trying sow seeds of discord within the family. Why are you dragging the names of Ganapati's wife and children. You are trying to defame the woman who cannot come to the Assembly to defend her honour," Shettar said and demanded withdrawal of the statement.
Dharna, Adjournment of House
JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy too supported the demand and the united opposition staged a dharna with the demand.
Assembly Speaker KB Koliwad's efforts to resolve the deadlock failed even after a meeting of all party leaders.
The house was adjourned for the day with opposition sticking to its demand for a CBI probe into the case, removing the part on Ganapati's wife from the statement made by the government, resignation of former Home Minister KJ George and suspension of two IPS officers Prasad and Mohanty.
Yeddyurappa to lead dharna demanding George’s resignation
Karnataka BJP President B S Yeddyurappa will be leading a protest dharna in front of Town Hall in Bengaluru on Tuesday demanding the resignation of former Home Minister K J George over the suicide of Deputy Superintendent of Police Ganapati.
The State BJP unit will also be observing dharnas all over the State in front of the offices of all district deputy commissioners.
The State Party Media Convenor Shanatharam has in a press release said legislators and other party leaders will be joining the dharna demanding the resignation of Bangalore Development Minister K J George and institution of a CBI probe in the entire issyue,