Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)
Bengaluru, Oct 2: Congress and BJP who are at loggerheads long before the assembly election falls due in the state, are busy hurling accusations against each other in what looks like tactics of one-upmanship to score over the rival. Both these parties are pointing fingers at each other for being responsible for starting fire for selfish ends and in the bargain, harming the society.
In the past, people saw exchange of strong words and attempt at outwitting the political adversaries when elections were approaching. However, this time the hurling of charges has begun much earlier. While the Congress has been blaming BJP of spreading fire in the society,BJP says that Congress is igniting fire for its selfish purposes.
Siddaramaiah and Ashoka
Speaking in the city on Sunday October 1, former deputy chief minister of the state, R Ashoka, charged chief minister, Siddaramaiah, of playing with fire of politics based on caste, religion and language by holding petrol in one hand and matchbox in the other. In a wry comment, he also said that because of playing with fire (Benki), Siddaramaiah can better be called 'Benkiramaiah'.
Siddaramaiah, speaking at Chitradurga, hit back by blaming BJP and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh of playing with fire in the name of religion. He said that Congress will rise to power in the state again and extinguish the fires started by BJP.
It may be recalled that reference to fire was made earlier in August when BJP national president, Amit Shah, visited the city. Congress had then charged Shah with making efforts to start the fire of communal clashes and thus destablize the state government, while the BJP leaders had said that it has been the habit of Congress leaders to spread fire and not BJP.
Later, Yeddyurappa, Ashoka and others had accused Congress of trying to sow the seeds of fire between Hindus and Muslims by blocking 'Mangaluru Chalo' programme by supporting fundamentalist Muslims. BJP had also said that Congress was torching the society by fomenting Lingayat-Veerashaiva friction and also by giving rise to demand for separate flag for Karnataka.