Daijiworld Media Network - Chikkamagaluru (SP)

Chikkamagaluru, Nov 18: BJP national general secretary and former minister C T Ravi, decried the Congress leaders for justifying the incident in which their own MLA Akhanda Srinivas Murthy's house was torched. He felt that this incident proves the level to which that party has stooped now.

Speaking to media persons in the town on Tuesday November 17, he referred to the statement issued by Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president, D K Shivakumar, who batted for former mayor Sampath Raj, who is an accused in the said case. "In the case of torching the house of Akhanda Srinivas Murthy, those at fault will be dealt with as per law, irrespective of whether they were supporters of either Shivakumar or Siddaramaiah," he asserted. He wanted to know whether there is any amendment to the law which says that if those who commit crimes are the supporters of these leaders, their crimes would be overlooked and suffered in silence.

D K Shivakumar (left) and C T Ravi

Ravi wanted to know whether D K Shivakumar had provided safe hiding place for former Bengaluru mayor Sampath Raj. He wanted to know where he was hiding, and the reason for being on the run if he had not committed any mistake. "Our government and the police department are capable enough. Steps have been taken on the basis of every piece of evidence including the conversation of that day," he stated.

Ravi said that circumstantial evidences point fingers at the involvement of Sampath Raj, his nephew, and personal assistant. "Taking advantage of the volatile situation, the house of their own MLA was set on fire. Is this the way the president of the party extends protection to his MLA?" he questioned.

He said that if the house of a BJP MLA had been torched similarly, Rahul and Sonia Gandhi would have ensured that it became an international news. Perhaps D K Shivakumar would have squatted in front of Yediyurappa's residence on dharna. Former chief minister, Siddaramaiah, would have behaved as if the sky had crashed on his head. Why are these leaders silent now? If their own partymen burn down something, it is something that we should silently bear with? The mindset of protecting criminals is not good for anyone," he remarked.