Deepak Rao’s murder triggers face-off between BJP, Congress

Deepak Rao’s murder triggers face-off between BJP, Congress

Mangalore Today News Network

Bengaluru, Jan 4, 2018: The murder of a 28-year-old BJP worker Deepak Rao, who was hacked to death in Katipalla on Wednesday has triggered a political face-off between the top leaders of BJP and the Congress.

Attacking the Congress-led government over the law and order situation in the state, the BJP’s state president, BS Yeddyurappa said, "In Suratkal, a 22-year-old BJP worker, Deepak Rao, was killed. Without even telling the parents, the body was taken from the hospital to his home. They did not allow a procession. This is the government’s style of functioning. The law and order situation is so bad that people feel they can get away with murder, especially in Mangaluru." He even accused Dakshina Kannada district in-charge Minister Ramanath Rai of having a hand in the murder.

The BJP has criticised the Congress government on the issue and said that many Hindu activists have been killed under the Congress rule in the state.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah reacting to BJP’s demand that Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy must step down owning responsibility for the murder of Hindu activist Deepak Rao in Mangaluru, he said "The home minister cannot be asked to resign for everything. The incident must not have taken place. All lives are important and the guilty must be punished. The police have already arrested four people and investigations are on. BJP is responsible for all the communal violence in the state. They are the ones spreading bitterness in society," the CM added.

 

Mangaluru City North MLA Mohiuddin Bava Addressing a press meet in Mangaluru today expressed suspicions that this murder is politically motivated. He condemned the incident which happened in his constituency and said that the accused in case Pinky Nawaz, his brother Ismail and brother-in-law Mohammed Ali are all representatives of BJP in Suratkal and Kaup.

The state’s home minister, Ramalinga Reddy, has said that strong action would be taken against the killers.

The BJP lawmakers in Delhi also protested outside the parliament over the issue.

Recently there were protests in the Uttara Kannada district following the mysterious death of a young man, Paresh Mesta, who had gone missing after communal clashes in Honnavar town in the district. The cause of his death has still not been confirmed.

Dakshina Kannada district has a history of communal tension and there are concerns that with elections due in the state this year political parties may try to use the situation for political gains.