Daijiworld Media Network -Mangaluru (DV)

Mangaluru, Apr 3:  Rural Development and Panchayat Raj minister K S Eshwarappa on Sunday, April 3 said that former chief minister Siddaramaiah and D K Shivakumar were competing with each other by provoking communal unrest in the state.

He was speaking to media after holding a review meeting in Zilla Panchayat hall here.

"When Siddaramaiah commented against the Swamijis, D K Shivakumar distanced himself from the statement stating that it is his personal statement. It is clearly evident to what extent there is groupism in the Congress party," he said.

"To appease Rahul Gandhi, Siddaramaiah is stating that BJP and RSS are creating communal unrest in the state.  D K Shivakumar is also voicing his opinion in a lighter tone to attract  Sonia Gandhi's attention. Both are involved in the same strategy to appease Muslims. This is not new.  Congress is doing this since Independence," the minister said.

"Out of 96 Muslim students, only six students went to college by wearing the hijab. Later, it spread to the entire state and to the whole  country. If the leaders of Congress, PFI, and SDPI had asked these six students not to do this, would there be any problem in the state or in the country? They created this but they are pointing fingers at RSS, BJP and Bajrang Dal," he said.

Also, he said, " When Harsha was murdered, I was at Chamarajnagar. The SP informed me that eight Muslim youth had murdered Harsha. Later, I told that Harsha was murdered by eight Muslim goondas. Would they expect me to tell that Muslim patriots had murdered Harsha. Later, they claimed that I had called Muslims as goondas. What can be said when Harsha was murdered with machetes. How will Siddaramaiah, D K Shivakumar address it?" he wondered.

"The BJP is committed  to ensure that peace prevails in the state. But, the other political parties  are trying to appease Muslims by giving statements on Harsha and hijab. If you would have treated Hindus and Muslims equally, communal violence would not have occurred in the state," he said.

U T Khader, deputy leader of opposition in the assembly had  said, " SDPI and PFI are responsible for stoking communal violence or hijab issue in the state. Not only Khader but all Muslim MLAs jointly held a press meet. On the same day Siddaramaiah, D K Shivakumar blamed RSS, BJP and Bajrang Dal  for the communal violence. People in the state are watching who is creating this communal unrest. By making such statements Siddaramaiah and D K Shivakumar are in competition to gain supremacy  by provoking communal unrest in the state."

Speaking on Halal and Jhatka meat controversy, Eshwarappa said, " If Hindus want to eat Jhatka meat let them eat. If Muslims want to eat Halal meat let them eat Halal. What is the problem of Congress? They do not want Hindus and Muslims to live peacefully."

When media personnel questioned whether the government had failed to maintain the law and order situation in the state, Eshwarappa said, "If the government had failed to maintain law and order situation in the state, police could not arrest 10 accused on the day of Harsha's murder. Just think how many days did Congress take to trace the accused in the previous murders that took place in coastal regions."

Questioning Siddaramaiah, Eshwarappa said that Siddaramaiah was asking in the assembly session why did you give Rs 25 lac compensation to Harsha's family. When the cattle protecting Hindus were slaughtered in coastal Karnataka, how much compensation did you give? To many you have not given compensation. You do not have the right to talk on compensation. You are politicising this," he said.

When asked about H D Kumaraswamy criticizing the BJP, Eshwarappa said, "Kumaraswamy is not criticizing the BJP, but he, D K Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah are appeasing Muslims. He has no power. Those who criticized BJP, all have collapsed."