BJP accuses Shivakumar of harbouring accused in DJ Halli violence

Congress is now sharing power with SDPI in Bantwal, says Nalin Kumar Kateel

[File] An area at DJ Halli after large-scale violence and arson | Bhanu Prakash Chandra [File] An area at DJ Halli after large-scale violence and arson | Bhanu Prakash Chandra

Karnataka BJP chief Nalin Kumar Kateel on Wednesday accused state Congress president D. K. Shivakumar of "giving shelter" to an accused in the August 11 violence at DJ Halli in Bengaluru.

"The police report clearly says the DJ halli violence was not communal but a fallout of the leadership squabble between Congress leaders Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar," alleged Kateel.  

Stating that the aggrieved Congress MLA, Akhanda Srinivasmurthy (who's house was gutted)  was Siddaramaiah's man and the accused Sampat Raj was close to Shivakumar, Kateel said,  "An FIR has been filed against Sampat Raj, who is now absconding. But none of the Congress leaders has asked him to surrender, as they don't respect the law of this land." Kateel attributed the Congress defeat in the recent bypolls to its "adjustment politics". 

"The Congress had dared the BJP government to ban SDPI post DJ Halli violence. But now, it is sharing power with SDPI in Bantwal Town Municipal Council. The Congress stands exposed as it could not protect its own Dalit legislator and his house from arson. People can see through this deceit. Soon, the party workers and the people will  bundle up the Congress party into the Arabian sea," said Kateel, who represents Dakshina Kannada parliamentary constituency.  

'Modi wave intact'

Kateel said people have voted for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP's development mantra. Launching a tirade against Siddaramaiah, he said those who claimed they see no Modi wave are today disappointed.

"The BJP winning 72 seats in the Bihar assembly elections and its performance in the bypolls in Telangana, MP,  UP,  Gujarat and Karnataka have proved that people have voted for development and that the Modi wave is intact, but some people refuse to see it," said Kateel, who attributed the party's victory to collective effort of his party leaders and party workers. 

Stating the bypoll results would be a referendum on all future elections, Kateel said,  "People have voted for the BJP and reposed their faith in Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, who has managed crisis after crisis—from the floods to Covid—and remained focus on development. The people have rejected the Congress party which is indulging in goondaism and caste politics."

Irked by Siddaramaiah frequently claiming that the BJP would replace Yediyurappa, Kateel said, "Siddaramaiah should stop day dreaming about becoming the CM as the BSY government will complete its full term and the BJP will rule the state with the people's mandate for the next 10-15 years, too." 

“Some self proclaimed leaders fancy calling themselves as Bande (rock) and Huliya (tiger). But the tiger has been banished to the woods,” mocked Kateel referring to the nicknames of Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar.  

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