German Consul General worried over 'growing intolerance'

 Home Minister G Parameshwara on Wednesday said that a delegation of German officials led by German Counsul General in Bengaluru John Rhode has expressed concern over growing intolerance and sought to know whether it was safer for German entrepreneurs to invest in Karnataka.

Speaking to reporters after holding a meeting with the delegation at the KPCC office on Queen's Road, Parameshwara said the German officials discussed about growing intolerance in the country and sought to know whether the investors would face any threat from religious extremists in Karnataka.

“Growing intolerance has created a sense of fear among foreigners. But I tried to imbibe confidence in them as I thought it would not be appropriate to discuss our domestic issues with the foreigners. I told the delegation that such petty incidents have happened in the past also and that there was no need to panic,” the minister said.

He said the delegation met him to discuss about the investment climate in Karnataka. But a note released by the KPCC to the media on the purpose of delegation meeting the Home Minister stated “to discuss about the mutual aspect regarding the possibility of collaboration between the State of Karnataka and the State of Hessen, Germany.”

Tarek Al-Wazir, Vice Minister-President, Minister of Economics, Energy, Transport and Regional Development, State of Hessen, Germany, was part of the delegation.

Task force not required

Parameshwara further said the State government will not hesitate to initiate strict action against people taking law into their hands. There is no need for setting up a task force to check those who stir communal harmony. The State police are competent enough to deal with such elements, he added.

On the Kalburgi murder, he said the police have taken the case as a challenge. “It will not be in the interest of investigation to reveal all the information. The police are capable of cracking the case,” he added.