Ex MLC flays BJP for politicising assault on Suja Kushalappa

'Those who had given bandh call should be held responsible for loss'

Former MLC A K Subbaiah has criticised the BJP for calling Kodagu bandh and for politicising the incident of attack on BJP District President Suja Kushalappa. It is wrong on the part of the BJP to give political touch by calling the incident of exchange of fire between two groups as an act of terrorists.

Addressing mediapersons on Monday, he said the JD(S) condemns the assault on Suja Kushalappa, but there was no need to call for Kodagu bandh. “A large number of people had to face inconvenience due to the district-wide bandh. Shops belonging to innocents were attacked in Somwarpet. Protesters have also assaulted individuals who were walking in Madikeri. Those who had given bandh call should hold responsibility of such instances and incur the loss,” Subbaiah demanded.

Former MLC suspected the police of supporting those who gave bandh call. Why the police who file cases against farmers who block the roads demanding to solve their problems, have not filed any cases against the miscreants who blocked the roads and set wooden logs on fire during the bandh. Have the police supported protesters? he questioned.

He demanded the government to hand over the case of shoot out on the BJP leader and untoward incidents that marked the bandh, to the CBI to probe. 

The police should furnish complete information on the incident available to public. It was the responsibility of the Congress-led State government to ensure peace and public safety during bandh, he said.

Kodagu District JD(S) President V P Shashidhar pointed at the contradiction in the statements made by the IGP and the BJP MLA. 

If IGP Ramachandra Rao suspects personal enmity and professional jealousy behind the assault, the BJP MLA has been terming it as a terrorists conspiracy. Has the BJP MLA collected more information than police?   Shashidhar  asked.

“Why the MLA who has condemned the shoot out incident, did not speak when series of murders took place in Virajpet. No opportunity was given to express condolence in the panchayat hall, when Zilla Panchayat  former member Abdul Latheef was murdered,” Shashidhar said.