Communal forces will be dealt with iron hand: CM

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday said communal forces in the State were trying to incite trouble for political gains ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, but the government would deal with such elements with an iron hand.

Replying to a discussion on the motion of thanks to the governor’s address in the Legislative Assembly, Siddaramaiah said the government would not tolerate any attempt to disrupt communal harmony in the State. Be it Bajrang Dal, Sri Rama Sene or the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, none would be spared. No group would be allowed to do moral policing, he warned.

Turning the tables on the BJP, which had blamed the government for the recent communal flare-up in Chikmagalur, Siddaramaiah said police investigation had revealed that it was one Rajashekar who had tried to incite communal tension by hiring a person to throw pork in front of a dargah in the town. Rajashekar’s wife was a BJP counsellor in Chikmagalur municipality, Siddaramaiah said. But the BJP members insisted that he take action against SIMI and other such groups.

Later in the day, C T Ravi, BJP MLA from Chikmagalur, said a false case had been booked against Rajashekar who is the general secretary of the BJP in the district. Some unrelated case is linked to the communal tension. The matter is pending before court and the chief minister should not have mentioned the name, he said. Siddaramaiah was not present in the House.

Siddaramaiah, who also dealt at length with the State finances in his reply, expressed confidence that the revenue target of Rs 42,947 crore for the four resource-mobilising departments of commercial taxes, excise, stamps and registration and transport for the financial year 2013-14 would be met.

He said several schemes announced by the government, including the Anna Bhagya scheme, subsidy for dairy farmers and loan waiver for SC/STs had increased the subsidy burden to Rs 6,589 crore, an additional Rs 2,200 crore compared with the previous fiscal. The subsidy component would increase the net fiscal, as the Anna Bhagya scheme alone would require Rs 4,500 crore. However, developmental programmes will not be derailed, he claimed.

He accused the Opposition of misinterpreting his comments at a recent meeting that officials should gear up as an admission that administrative machinery had failed. He had to speak firmly to speed up administration, he said adding that letters had been written to officials and ministers to make themselves available to legislators.

Siddaramaiah charged the BJP with indulging in false campaign on the areca nut issue for electoral gains. He reiterated that there was no move to ban areca nut cultivation or use.Following his reply, the BJP members staged a walkout.