Opposition blames Government for its diversionary tactics

Opposition members in the Legislative Council on Monday took the BJP government to task for alleging that it has failed to take stringent action against those accused in the Padil incident. The government is only indulging in diversion tactics by giving communal colour to entire episode, they said. 

Leader of the Opposition in the Council S R Patil demanded that  there should be no political interference in  the police investigation. 

He said generally it is said that that Hindu organisations in Mangalore don’t have fear law of the land. 

Immediately,  G Madhusudhan (BJP) took objection to the statement and asked the Opposition members not to make such sweeping statements. Members of ruling party namely Bharathi Shetty, Arun R Shapur and B Bhanu Prakash endorsed their party colleague’s contention.

This enraged Congress and the JD (S) members alleged the  government was giving communal colour to such a serious incident of crime. JD(S) leader MC Nanaiah said the term Hindu is not contract or asset of the BJP.

There are more than 90 crore Hindus in the country and they are not owned by any party, he said.

Deputy Chairperson in the Council Vimala Gowda said the incident had pained all women in the State.  

Bharathi Shetty recalled the the Mandya train incident where a garment woman worker was pushed out by a group of men. 

But she said she did not blame any one set of organisations. Shetty’s statement received objections from the opposition members and Congress leader Veeranna Mattikatti said government’s main agenda was not to allow discussion on the Mangalore incident. 

Soon opposition members jumped into the well of the house and began shouting slogans against the Government. The Council Chairman DH Shankara Murthy adjourned the house for 10 minutes. When the house met again leader of house V Somanna tried to pacify the agitating members by saying the government was supporting the accused and promised strict legal action against the culprits.

However, the Opposition was in no mood to withdraw their agitation which forced the chairman to adjourn the House to Tuesday. 

“It’s BJP’s time table for elections”

The JD(S) leader and member of the Legislative Council MC Nanaiah said the BJP is preparing ground for upcoming assembly elections in the State and the Padil incident is just part of its time table. 

Nanaiah, speaking to reporters in Bangalore,  said the incident as a well thought out conspiracy to restore party base in the Dakshina Kannada which has been taken a beating in the recent times. Protests by few women in support of attacks and silence of the party’s elected representatives in the district, including women leaders, regarding the issue, are all part of the BJP’s strategy, he said. 

The JD(S) leader also said the State government is putting pressure on police officials and arrests so far were nothing but an eye wash.