BJP seeks CBI probe

Party object's to Rahul's Gandhi's tweet on RSS, BJP

The state BJP on Wednesday demanded a CBI probe into the murder of journalist-activist Gauri Lankesh and accused the Congress of politicising the tragedy.

Addressing a press conference here, former deputy chief minister R Ashoka and party spokesperson S Suresh Kumar said Gauri’s brother Inderjit Lankesh had sought a CBI probe into the murder and the state government should oblige him.

“The state government has ordered a probe by Special Investigation Team, which is nothing but a part of the CID. The Supreme Court while ordering a CBI probe into the death of DySP M K Ganapathi had criticised the functioning of the state CID,” Ashoka, a former Home minister said. He added that the CID had failed to crack the murder of rationalist M M Kalburgi. “The government should honour the sentiments of Gauri’s family and hand over the case to the CBI,” he said.

Suresh Kumar took exception to a tweet by AICC Vice President Rahul Gandhi that those who do not accept the RSS or the BJP get killed and KPCC Working President Dinesh Gundu Rao’s statement that communal elements could be behind the murder of Gauri Lankesh. “The Congress is unfortunately trying to make political capital out of the murder of Gauri Lankesh. If they have any evidence then they are duty bound to submit it to the investigative agency,” Kumar said. Ashoka charged that the police force in the state had lost their morale due to constant interference by the government in the state.

Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Jagadish Shettar also demanded a CBI probe into the murder.

Shettar told reporters in Hubballi that the law and order situation has completely collapsed in Karnataka, as in the last one year alone, the state has seen 18 political/ideological murders, including that of those belonging to the Right-wing ideology.