Bengaluru: Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy on Tuesday blamed Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders for attempting to come to power in the state by creating atmosphere for communal riots instead of pressurizing the Central Government to waive off agricultural loans and suitable compensation for drought-affected areas.
Speaking to media persons here, the minister said the BJP leaders have been trying to come to power by organising programmes like Mangaluru Chalo bike rally.
“They were quite all these years till Amit Shah visited Bengaluru recently. As per Shah’s advice to create law and order problems in the state, these BJP leaders suddenly became active,’’ the minister said.
Blaming the BJP leaders for their inability to provide the details on Mangaluru Chalo bike rally, the minister said they did not provide information on the number of people participating in the rally. “It is their responsibility to provide the details on the number of people participating in the bike rally from five different locations in the state. All are equal before law. All have to respect the law. Stringent action will be taken against those who violate the law,’’ the minister said.
Recalling how violence took place at Panchakula and other areas in Haryana recently, the minister defended the police for not permitting the rally in the state. “More than 30 people died in the violence in Haryana for not taking precautionary measures by the police. Who will be responsible if something goes wrong during the bike rally in the state?’’ asks the minister.
He said the state government is answerable to the people if something goes wrong. “This government belongs to six-and-half crore people. Here all – including Hindu, Muslim and Christian – lives are important,’’ he said.
Stating that BJP government gave permission to Congress leaders to undertake padayatra from Bengaluru to Ballari, the minister said there was no law and order problem when Congress leaders undertook the padayatra. “All is not well in Mangaluru. How is it possible for the government to allow BJP leaders to go to Mangaluru in the prevailing condition,’’ he said.
Criticizing BJP leaders for becoming restless after a survey revealed Congress to get majority in the next Assembly elections, the minister opined the survey report would be one of the reasons for the BJP leaders’ bike rally. “One needs police permission even to celebrate Ganesha festival. How can BJP leaders take out bike rally from Bengaluru to Mangaluru without police permission? It will become inevitable for the government to act tough,’’ he said.
