KPCC working president Manjunath Bhandary lashed out at the BJP for portraying Suhas Shetty as a Hindutva icon despite his history of criminal charges. He challenged the BJP’s silence over Keerthi’s murder, allegedly by Suhas, asking, “Was Keerthi not Hindu just because he was Dalit?” He reminded that it was the BJP government itself that had opened a rowdy-sheet against Suhas, and now the same party was trying to gain political mileage by celebrating him.

He condemned communal provocation, urging the BJP to stop stoking division for electoral benefits. “Five cases were filed against Suhas. Yet, there’s no outrage over Keerthi’s killing,” Bhandary said, demanding an impartial probe and justice for all victims, regardless of community.

Bhandary also rebuked Pejwar Mutt pontiff Sri Vishwaprasanna Tirtha Swami, who had claimed that Hindus were unsafe in India and Karnataka. “How can a community that makes up 85% of the population be called vulnerable?” he asked. He recalled how the previous seer hosted an Iftar and praised the Muslim community’s support, accusing the current seer of political interference.

He further clarified that Home Minister G Parameshwara did not conduct any official meeting with Muslim leaders in Mangaluru, dismissing BJP’s claims. “If BJP MLAs truly cared, they would’ve joined the meeting to discuss law and order,” he added.