BJP sees pattern in murder of party workers, Hindus

A Hindu activist is killed soon after CM's visits a dist, says Shobha

State BJP leaders on Friday took to the streets in Bengaluru to condemn the killing of party worker Santhosh in JC Nagar in the city and blamed the Congress for plunging the state into chaos.

They demanded that the probe be handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

The leaders staged a protest in front of Gandhi statue near Ananda Rao Circle. BJP state general secretary and MP Shobha Karandlaje said Karnataka has taken the top spot among states when it comes to criminal activities. The killing of Hindus and atrocities against women is on the rise. "The state has plunged into chaos," she charged.

Shobha said there is a pattern in the killing of the BJP workers/ Hindus. "Whichever district (Chief Minister) Siddaramaiah goes there is a murder of a Hindu. This pattern has been going on for several weeks now."

She said Siddaramaiah, instead of visiting the house of Santhosh to offer his condolences to the grieving family, decided to have lunch at Food and Civil Supplies Minister U T Khader, which is just a stone throw away from Santhosh's place.

Former Home Minister R Ashoka trained his guns on Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy for stating that Santhosh was killed due to personal enmity. "How can he come to the conclusion before the completion of the investigation ?" he asked.

Reddy had recently said: "There was no intention to kill. Santosh was stabbed with a screw driver in the leg. He died due to excessive bleeding."

BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa visited the house of Santhosh. He provided the family with a compensation of Rs one lakh and assured that any one member of the family will be given a government job if the BJP comes to power.

Santosh was not BJP worker: CM

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the BJP seems to be zealous in inducting those who are dead into their party fold. Santhosh who was killed recently was not at all a BJP worker. We do not do politics over death. Those who are involved in the murder will be dealt with severely. At the same time we will also crack down on those indulging in ganja tarde.