Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (ANK)

Mangaluru, Jul 8: District BJP secretary Capt Brijesh Chowta on Saturday July 8 demanded the resignation of district in-charge minister B Ramanath Rai alleging that Rai had failed to maintain law and order in the district which in turn resulted in frequent communal clashes.

Addressing a press meet here on Saturday, Chowta said, "Dakshina Kannada district is witnessing series of communal clashes from the past several days. On July 4 RSS worker Sharath was stabbed at BC Road despite clamping section 144 in Bantwal taluk. After battling for life for three days, Sharath passed away.

"Sharath was taken in a procession from AJ Hospital to his hometown Kandur in Sajipamunnur on Saturday. The procession was peaceful till it reached the toll gate, but once it entered the Bantwal constituency stone-pelting started, resulting damage to some shops, vehicles and injuries to a few. As per information, a few innocents were arrested for stone-pelting. We demand their immediate release," he said.

"Being district in-charge minister, Ramanath Rai has completely failed in tackling the situation and bringing back normalcy. There were lapses on the part of the police department too in bringing the situation under control.

"From past four years BJP has been stressing on cracking down on drug mafia, sand mafia and cow trafficking for which a lot of money has been funded. But no action has been taken on the issues as we feel that police are under the clutches of the Congress ministers".

Commenting on the 'Mangalore Muslims' Facebook page, Brijesh Chowta said, "Mangalore Muslims Facebook page is active in posting provocative messages to disrupt peace and harmony in the district. Recently RSS leader Prabhakar Bhat received death threat from the same Facebook page which questioned as to whether 'terrorist' Bhat's body would be draped in the National Flag to accord him respect upon his death, or saffron flag will be preferred. Even when RSS worker Sharath lost his life Mangalore Muslims page posted "AJ yalli ondhu wicket pathana, Kalladkadalli yaavaga" - (one wicket down at AJ Hospital, when will it happen at Kalladka). We will lodge complaint against Mangalore Muslims page for posting provocative messages and urge the police department to investigate and detain the culprits behind this. We demand the police to ban this Facebook page and provide security for RSS leader Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat."

Slamming the Congress government, he said, "After Congress came to power in the state several criminal cases registered against SDPI, KFD and PFI were withdrawn and this laid a strong foundation for these organisations to continue their attempts to disrupt peace and harmony. These organisations believe that Congress party is there to safeguard them, which in tun provokes them to create untoward incidents in society. Congress has been defending these organisation to gain votes from the minorities ahead of the forthcoming elections. We also urge ban on organisations such as KFD, PFI and SDPI."

BJP leaders Kishore Rai, Ravi Shankar Mijar, BJP Yuva Morcha president Harish Poonja and others were present.

Complaint filed

BJP members led by Capt Brijesh Chowta later met the police commissioner and explained to him the need to ban the Mangalore Muslims Facebook page. They filed a police complaint against the page administrators, and also sought security for Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat.