The BJP went on the offensive against the ruling Congress at the Legislative Council saying the government had been targeting Sangh Parivar outfits in the State.

On Monday, during a discussion on the law and order situation in the State, the Opposition party leaders said the government was framing cases against youth affiliated to several Sangh Parivar fringe outfits and letting those from the minority community involved in clashes go scot-free.

Shivayogi Swami (BJP) cited a few examples wherein the government had filed cases against members of the Hindu Jagarna Vedike (HJV) in the past few months. The cases are increasing after the Congress came to power, he alleged.

Swami said the government had listed the name of Raghavendra Ajekar, a member of the HJV, under the Goonda Act as a rowdy sheeter, on flimsy grounds of having opposed terrorism, cow slaughter and conversion. He said the report was prepared by the Deputy Commissioner of the district, based on which he was arrested under the Goonda Act.

Prejudice

His party colleague D V Sadananda Gowda said there was a lot of talk in society that the government was prejudiced against the Hindu youth and filing cases against them. He said the law and order situation was deteriorating in the State and more vigilance was required in the coastal districts.

However, countering the statement, Home Minister K J George said as many as 10 different cases were filed against Ajekar for making inflammatory speeches and conspiring to create communal disharmony.

G Madhusudhan, BJP MLC, pointed out that Wazir Ahmed, Inspector General (IG) of Western Range, was given a free hand to release as many as 11 rowdy sheeters from the same community saying they were not involved in any untoward incident. Ahmed was in charge of administration in Bangalore in 2000 when the recruitment scam happened. “There was a recommendation from the then DGP Dinakar to order an enquiry against him, but to no avail,” he said.

In his reply, George said all those who claim to have been wronged for being placed under the rowdy-sheeter list can approach the Appeals Board against the police officers.