Union Minister Prahlada Joshi has raised concerns about the current political climate in Karnataka, asserting that the Congress party’s policies have empowered “fanatical forces and traitors.” He attributed this issue to what he described as a policy of appeasement, emphasising that such dynamics have culminated in recent unrest in the state.
During a press briefing, he specifically addressed the handling of the Nagamangala incident, criticising the police response and asserting that the situation was not managed appropriately. He stated, “An incident like Nagamangala was not handled properly by the police,” and called for the Chief Minister to be more cautious in his comments regarding riots, particularly referencing disturbances during the Ganesha procession in Davangere.
Joshi claimed that investigations indicate organisations like the PFI had premeditated the Nagamangala riot, highlighting that petrol bombs were thrown at Hindu shops. “Is it possible to attack like this in a single day?” he questioned, underscoring his concerns about the planning behind the unrest.
Additionally, he addressed the political landscape, suggesting that there is a looming fear of the state government collapsing. He remarked on the summons issued by the Lokayukta to former Chief Ministers B.S. Yeddyurappa and H.D. Kumaraswamy, alleging that a political conspiracy is at play, particularly in light of fears surrounding Siddaramaiah’s potential resignation.
Joshi also pointed to what he described as a misuse of police resources and expressed concerns about leaks related to the Lokayukta’s complaints.
On a different note, he elaborated on the government’s initiatives to stabilise onion prices across the nation, stating that the Centre has established 570 price monitoring centres to ensure affordability not just in Bengaluru but throughout the country. He assured that prices would be controlled and that the Centre would supply onions at lower rates to ease the burden on consumers.