With DK on the boil, state govt to hold peace meeting soon

The state government will convene a meeting of leaders of different political parties and organisations within a week to ensure peace and communal harmony in Dakshina Kannada, Forest Minister Ramanath Rai said on Sunday.

Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Rai, who is also the minister in-charge of Dakshina Kannada district, said the local deputy commissioner will fix the date for the peace meeting.

Dakshina Kannada has been on the boil for several weeks now and the unrest escalated after RSS activist Sharath Madiwala, who was stabbed by unidentified assailants at BC Road on July 4, succumbed to his injuries on Friday.

“Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, legislators from all the parties from the region, including Social Democratic Party of India, Hindu organisations among others will be participating in the peace meeting,” Rai said.

He accused the BJP MP from Udupi-Chikkamagaluru Shobha Karandlaje of making provocative speech ahead of Sharath’s funeral procession on Saturday, which turned violent following stone-throwing. None from the Congress was involved in the recent attacks in Bantwal and the party stands by its secular principles. It is the BJP that is disturbing communal harmony in the region, said Rai, who is also the Bantwal MLA.

Siddaramaiah told reporters that those who try to disturb peace and communal harmony will be dealt with an iron hand. The government will rein in any  organisation, irrespective of its religious affiliation, if it takes law into its hands. He accused the BJP of fomenting communal hatred in the region for electoral gains.

Meanwhile, speaking to reporters, Union Minister D V Sadananda Gowda held Siddaramaiah responsible for the unrest in Dakshina Kannada. “As chief minister, he has failed to restore  the law and order in the region..If the state government is incapable, let it inform the Centre... peace will be restored within a day,” he said.

Gowda said he has briefed Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and the Centre is keeping a watch on the situation.