Shobha Karandlaje fires up Baig, says he ordered RSS worker’s murder

www.mangaloretoday.com

Bengaluru, Nov 5, 2016: In a sensational claim, BJP MP Shobha Karandlaje on Friday accused Information Minister R Roshan Baig of “paying supari” for the murder of RSS worker R Rudresh. She said she had “credible information” that Baig was involved in the killing.

The minister reacted angrily to the accusation and declared he would sue Karandlaje. This is what the BJP parliamentarian told DH, “Police and intelligence officials are speaking about Baig’s involvement in the killing of Rudresh. We have also run the government and have contacts in the police and the state intelligence. They have told us that there is credible evidence of Baig’s involvement.” She is attending an orientation camp organised by the BJP at a star hotel on Hosur Road.

Rudresh, 38, was hacked to death on Kamaraj Road, central Bengaluru, on October 16.

Karandlaje, who is the party’s state general secretary, said Rudresh had gained popularity in Shivajinagar, the Assembly constituency of Baig. “Baig has been losing hold over his constituency and could not digest the growth of Rudresh. So, he finished him off,” she suggested.

She demanded that the murder be investigated by the CBI or the NIA and that Baig resign immediately. “Police are under pressure to go slow on the investigation,” she claimed.

Karandlaje also claimed that the Social Democratic Party of India and the Popular Front of India were “involved” in the murder of several RSS and BJP workers, and urged the state government to ban the two organisations. She said these organisations, which were active in Kerala, had now set up their base in Bengaluru, Mysuru and other parts of Karnataka.

She further said that the BJP would hold protests across the state on November 8, demanding Baig’s resignation. A delegation of state BJP leaders kwill meet Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi on November 9 and brief him on the recent killings of RSS and BJP workers and the “deteriorating” law and order in Karnataka, Karandlaje add­ed.Baig dismissed the charge as “baseless” and said Karandlaje was indulging in “cheap politics and publicity gimmicks” as she nursed “greater political ambitions”. Speaking to reporters, Baig said that Karandlaje hailed from Udupi and “knew nothing” about Shivajinagar. “She is trying to create communal disharmony in order to polarise voters in the constituency,” he said.

‘Ready for CBI probe’
The minister further said that the government was free to order a CBI or NIA probe into the murder, as he had “nothing to fear”. “I knew Rudresh well, he was a good man. He was neither my political opponent nor had he tried to vilify me. His death saddened me,” he said.

He said the police had apprehended the suspects. “Since the BJP has no issues to rake up, it is trying to keep the matter alive through such statements,” he added. Karandlaje said she was ready to face the defamation suit by Baig.