'Move to ban black magic smacks of hidden agenda'

The BJP on Tuesday alleged there was a hidden agenda behind the government’s decision to ban black magic by enacting a new law.

BJP leader and former chief minister, D V Sadananda Gowda claimed the Congress appeared to be planning to “target” the majority community on the pretext of banning black magic.
“Let them take action against black magic. We have no objection. But it should not be used to target the majority community,” he told reporters.

Gowda also mentioned the government’s decision to dissolve the management committees of big Muzrai temples.

The High Court of Karnataka had set aside the government order in that regard, he added.
On Monday, Law Minister T B Jayachandra announced that the Karnataka Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifice and Other Inhuman Evil and Gory Practices and Black Magic Bill, 2013, was being drafted and was likely to be tabled in the winter session of the Legislature.

He also alleged that the Congress leaders were interfering in the functioning of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) that is probing illegal mining. K C Kondaiah recently met the CBI officers, he added.

“The Congress is trying to influence the probe. There is no need for them to provide any information to the CBI,” he said.