From Our Special Correspondent
Daijworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Nov 17: KPCC president DK Shivakumar strongly defended the Congress party following the arrest of former Bengaluru mayor Sampath Raj in connection with the August 11 riots in Kadugondanahalli and Devarajeevanahalli areas in Bengaluru and said 'all should respect the law.'
Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru on Tuesday, he said, "Be it Sampath Raj or DK Shivakumar, all should respect law.”
Shivakumar said the ruling BJP government was trying to target the Congress leaders. “We have seen what they have done. I have seen the charge sheet. Where is (the evidence) that the Congress is involved?” he asked.
The former mayor, who was said to be absconding for nearly a month, was arrested on Tuesday.
The former mayor has been accused of inciting the attack on Congress MLA Akhanda Srinivas Murthy’s house in Pulakeshinagar in the city on August 11.
Murthy’s house was completely destroyed in the violence. The legislator has alleged that Raj was behind the attack.
The Congress MLA had thanked chief minister B S Yediyurappa and home minister Basavaraj Bommai for 'ensuring justice.’
Speaking to reporters, Murthy said, "Sampat Raj would not have escaped from hospital if he was not guilty. He should have cooperated with the police.’’
Murthy took exception to Shivakumar’s silence on the issue so far and sought the KPCC president to support his case.
The MLA thanked former chief minister Siddaramaiah and MLA Zameer Ahmed for supporting his case. “I am not indulged in politics of vengeance,” Murthy said.
Shivakumar, while supporting Sampat Raj’s case, said the party was also with Murthy. “Who said I am not with Murthy?’’ he asked and added, "Murthy was free to meet him personally to discuss 'internal party matters.’
Meanwhile, home minister Basavaraj Bommai on Tuesday termed the arrest of Congress leader and former Bengaluru mayor Sampath Raj in connection with the Bengaluru violence case 'as a major development that will lead to exposure of the conspiracy and people behind it.’
“He was accused and was absconding. Had he been innocent, he would not have absconded. We have caught him. There will be a further probe. His arrest is a major development that will lead to exposure of the conspiracy and seven people behind Bengaluru violence," said Bommai.