Bangalore : Karnataka Govt Assures Action against Sene Chief
Bangalore, May 14 (HT): The Headlines Today-Tehelka sting operation that unmasked Ram Sene chief Pramod Muthalik, who accepted on camera staging riots in return for money, has pushed the saffron brigade on the back foot. The expose has in fact spurred the BJP government in Karnataka into action.
Sene might not have formal ties with the BJP government in Karnataka, but the fact that it has grown to a major irritant has got much to do with the Yeddyurappa government going soft on Muthalik.
State govt assures action against Muthalik Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa on Friday said the police will take necessary action against Muthalik after the expose on the Sene boss.
Yeddyurappa said the government has never interfered in such matters. He also denied that the expose would have any impact on his government. The chief minister washed his hands of Muthalik saying he was not connected with the BJP.
"I don't know anything about Muthalik. I read about him in newspaper. Police will take appropriate decision at appropriate time. Generally we don't interfere in such matters. Police is there and according to law they will take action," Yeddyurappa said.
Yeddyurappa even denied being soft on Muthalik pointing out that the government had taken action against the Sene after the attack on a church.
Meanwhile, Karnataka Home Minister V.S. Acharya has asked for the damning tapes from Headlines Today wherein Muthalik is seen promising a riot for money.
Acharya promised that the government will initiate action against Muthalik after going through the tapes.
Asked if the expose will impact the image of the government the minister said, "Not at all. In what way is it connected with our party? We have always taken stern action when church attack was there. If there is an allegation, police will take appropriate action."
On Muthalik's aide operating from the jail Acharya said, "We don't have any report on that. If there is, then police will take appropriate action."
Saffron forces distance themselves from Muthalik
Saffron organisations like the RSS and its political wing have distance themselves from the beleaguered chief of Sene.
RSS spokesperson Ram Madhav said, "RSS has nothing to do with Muthalik. We are not giving him patronage. There is no place for violence in the RSS system. He has a small organisation in Karnataka and RSS has no links with it."
Earlier, washing hands of the organisation and its chief, BJP vice president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi had told Headlines Today, "Groups that trigger religious unrest within the country under the garb of tradition should be given the strictest punishment possible. In reality, there is no Hindu or Muslim terrorism."