'Tag not party stand'

The Congress has distanced itself from the state government’s controversial stand on the demand for according a separate religion status to the Lingayat-Veerashiva community.

Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) working president Dinesh Gundu Rao on Monday told reporters that the party has nothing to do with the issue. “The Congress has not taken any stand in this regard. Some religious leaders of the community have requested the government to give a religion status to their community. It is between those community leaders and the government.”

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has reportedly said that his government will recommend to the Centre to accord religion status to Lingayat-Veerashiva community if there is consensus among the community leaders. BJP leader B S Yeddyurappa has reportedly accused the chief minister of dividing people on caste lines.

This apart, Gundu Rao accused the BJP leaders of spreading communal hatred in Dakshina Kannada district for political gains. As many as 279 murders have been reported in the district since 2007. Of these, about 70% of them have happened this year. Most of these cases are reported in and around Kalladka, he said, adding that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should first take action against party MPs Shobha Karandlaje and Nalin Kumar Kateel, in this regard.

Shobha Karandlaje stages protests only if Hindus are attacked and remains silent when people belonging to the minority communities are killed, he charged.