Attack on Lokayukta: BJP, JD(S) slam govt over 'lawlessness' in state

Opposition parties, the BJP and the JD(S) on Wednesday came down heavily on the state government for the attack on Lokayukta Justice P Vishwanth Shetty, saying that law and order had completely collapsed in the state.

BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa said the incident was yet another example of "lawlessness" in the state. "That one gets the courage to attack the Lokayukta itself shows how bad the situation is in the state," he stated.

Expressing shock over the attack on Shetty, JD(S) national president and former prime minister H D Deve Gowda said that Karnataka had become a 'goonda raj' under the Siddaramaiah government.

"If a judge can be stabbed in broad daylight like this, one wonders where we are living. Is this a goonda raj? On one hand the government weakened the Lokayukta - now this. When the government can't even protect the Lokayukta, how can it protect the people of the state," he stated.

Later, Gowda visited Justice Shetty at the hospital where he is being treated upon.

BJP leader R Ashoka demanded that the Centre should impose President's rule in the state.JD(S) state president H D Kumaraswamy said the President's rule should have been imposed five to six months ago itself. "If that had happened, we wouldn't be in such a situation today. Both the BJP and the Congress are responsible for such lawlessness in the state today," he said.

He also said that ever since the Congress came to power, there had been continued attacks on bureaucrats and police officials. "Now a judge has been attacked. CM should take complete responsibility for this.