From Our Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Aug 20: Despite several ministers and state BJP leaders vociferously demanding a ban on the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) for its alleged role in the mass rioting and arson in the limits of the two police stations in the Pulakeshinagar Assembly constituency in the city on August 11 and the burning of the residence of Congress party’s Dalit MLA Akhanda Srinivasa Murthy, the state cabinet has deferred a decision pending further details and evidence.

The state cabinet, at its meeting chaired by chief minister B S Yediyurappa in Bengaluru on Thursday, decided to await further details from the Home Department before taking a final view on the matter.

Briefing reporters after the state cabinet meeting, Law and Parliamentary Affairs minister J C Madhuswamy said the state cabinet meeting discussed the alleged role of the SDPI into the violence and attacks on the Devarajeevanahalli and Kadugondahalli police stations limits and on the residence of the Congress MLA but chose not to take any decision.

The state cabinet needs more information about the alleged involvement of the SDPI in the violence, he said.

"As of now, we still do not have concrete evidence or a police report in the case before us. The state government will take the decision once we get the report,” the Minister said.

On the question of recovering damages to public property from rioters, the Karnataka Prevention of Destruction and Loss of Public Property Act, 1981, recommend that authority be established to estimate loss and compensation, he explained.

Last week, home minister Basavaraj Bommai, revenue minister R Ashok and tourism minister C T Ravi as well as rural development and panchayat raj minister K S Eshwarappa said the police investigation into the violence has revealed the involvement of the SDPI.

The ministers had said the state cabinet would take a decision to ban the SDPI.