Govt junks BJP's claim, says only 9 Hindus killed in communal clashes

The BJP has been mounting an attack on the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government over a spate of murders in the state, dubbing the administration as "anti-Hindu."

Ramalinga Reddy, however, went case by case and said police investigations had revealed that most of the killings of Hindus were perpetrated by Hindus and for personal reasons.

"Of the 23 killings for which the BJP has accused our government, 13 were not communal and one person is still alive. Action has been taken and investigations are underway in nine cases where a Hindu was killed by a Muslim," Reddy told reporters.

"I have placed this information on the floor of the Assembly. I can't lie. This information is available to anybody under Right to Information," he stated.

Reddy confirmed that radical Muslim groups PFI and SDPI were linked to the nine killings of Hindus. "But not a single Congress worker is involved in any killing."

He pointed out that BJP leader Shobha Karandlaje had written to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh listing out names of all 23 Hindus who were killed.