BJP will support protest against Madikeri incident, says MP

Member of Parliament Nalin Kumar Kateel termed chief minister’s statement in connection with the death of a VHP leader during a protest condemning Tipu Jayanthi in Madikeri on Tuesday, irresponsible.

Addressing mediapersons here on Wednesday, the MP said that the chief minister’s remarks on the death of VHP leader, Kuttappa that he died after he slipped  on the road is irresponsible. “I visited the site and spoke to eye witnesses. According to them, Kuttappa died of stone pelting,” he said.

‘Misleading public’
He also accused the chief minister of misleading the public with false information. He said that the pro-Hindu organisations had obtained permission from the district administration to stage a protest condemning Tipu Jayanthi. But several organisations which had taken out a procession in support of the event had not availed the permission at all. The MP questioned how the chief minister can issue a public statement without visiting the site or referring to the post- mortem report.

“The chief minister’s statements are directed at creating tension between different communities,” he accused and demanded that  the State government provide a compensation of Rs 25 lakh to the family of the deceased.

He also condemned the statement made by litterateur Girish Karnad during Tipu Jayanti celebrations in Bengaluru, that it would have been ‘apt’, if Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru had been named after Tipu Sultan. where even the chief minister was present.

Jan Sankalpa Yatra
The MP further said that the Jana Sankalpa Yatra which was scheduled to commence on November 13, has been postponed to Nov 14, as the pro-Hindu organisations are staging a protest on November 13, condemning Madikeri incident. The BJP will support the protest. However, the Yatra will conclude on November 22, as decided earlier,” he clarified.

“The BJP MLAs and MLCs wil raise Yettinahole issue in the assembly and the council. An all party delegation, including anti-Yettinahole activists, will visit Delhi, by the end of this month,” he added. District BJP president Pratap Simha Nayak and MLC Ganesh Karnik were present among others.