Government is deliberately branding Dakshina Kannada as communal: MP Chowta

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, May 16, 2025: The State government is deliberately branding Dakshina Kannada negatively by calling it “communal” and a “Hindutva factory,” thereby harming the growth of the region where people have stood by nationalistic thoughts, charged Dakshina Kannada Member of Parliament Captain Brijesh Chowta in Mangaluru on Thursday.

Talking to reporters, Capt. Chowta said any crime in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts is being given a communal colour by the Congress-ruled State government. 

 

“A specific negative narrative is being set by projecting this region as communal. It appears revenge is being taken against people of the region who are unapologetic nationalists,” he said.

“When will the region get rid of this communal tag and negative branding?” he questioned the government.

He criticised Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Dakshina Kannada district in-charge Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao for not sparing time to hear people, or at least the elected representatives, following the tense situation after the recent mob lynching of 38-year-old Ashraf and the murder of 30-year-old Bajrang Dal activist Suhas Shetty.  

“Tomorrow [Friday], the two [CM and district in-charge Minister] are just visiting the city, and to take part in some programmes, and go back,” he said.  

The two have not held a review meeting in Mangaluru to further the growth of the region, he alleged.   

The murder of Suhas Shetty, he said, is being deliberately projected as a murder of a person with a criminal background, and the government has so far not given a serious look at the horrific manner in which the crime has been committed. Though there is a probability of involvement of Popular Front of India (PFI) members and foreign funding for the murder, the government was deliberately not handing over the investigation of the case to the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

The sinister designs of the Congress party in projecting the Karavali region in a negative way lay exposed before the people. The BJP will continue to fight for the region, and it will remain committed to the development of the Karavali region, he said.