<div align="justify">Union Minister for Statistics and Programme Implementation D V Sadananda Gowda said he is ready to contest against District In-charge Minister B Ramanath Rai and Minister for Food and Civil Supplies U T Khader in the forthcoming Assembly polls. <br /><br />Rai and Khader had challenged Gowda to contest against them in the election. “I am confident that even BJP booth-level representatives are enough to defeat them,” he said.<br /><br />Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, he said there is unrest and violence in Bantwal and Ullal constituencies represented by Ramanath Rai and U T Khader respectively. Both ministers are responsible for the untoward developments in the district.<br /><br />“Section 144 has been imposed in Sullia, Belthangady and Puttur taluks where no untoward incidents have taken place. Why are people who have not committed any mistakes being punished?” the minister asked.<br /><br />“Minister Rai should inform when RSS worker Sharath died and when it was announced. The death should not be politicised. No action was initiated against those responsible for untoward incident during SDPI leader Ashraf’s funeral procession. Cases have been registered against BJP and Sangh Parivar leaders who had come to pay homage to Sharath. This clearly shows prevalence of hate politics in the region,” Gowda said.<br /><br />“In fact, it was Minister Ramanath Rai’s direction to former SP Bhushan G Borase that provoked the spread of communal hatred in the district. The state government is trying to suppress the majority Hindus in Dakshina Kannada district. Politicians belonging to a particular category are giving shelter to murderers from Kerala,” said the minister.<br /><br />“I had appealed to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to visit Sharath’s family members and console them, but he has failed to meet our expectations,” he added. Quoting Sharath’s father, the Union minister said Sharath’s father had washed and ironed the clothes of Ramanath Rai for several years. Even for courtesy, Rai has not responded to their sorrow.<br /><br />To a query on visiting only Sharath’s house, but not Ashraf’s house, Gowda said, “I know Sharath for the last several years. He belongs to our organisation. Hence, I visited his house.” Asked if he supports the protest by Sangh Parivar workers to defy the ban order, Sadananda Gowda said that through the ban order the government had attempted to suppress the rights of protesters. In response, the protest was organised amid ban order, he clarified. Earlier, the minister met the family of Sharath and handed over a sum of Rs 50,000. <br /></div>
<div align="justify">Union Minister for Statistics and Programme Implementation D V Sadananda Gowda said he is ready to contest against District In-charge Minister B Ramanath Rai and Minister for Food and Civil Supplies U T Khader in the forthcoming Assembly polls. <br /><br />Rai and Khader had challenged Gowda to contest against them in the election. “I am confident that even BJP booth-level representatives are enough to defeat them,” he said.<br /><br />Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, he said there is unrest and violence in Bantwal and Ullal constituencies represented by Ramanath Rai and U T Khader respectively. Both ministers are responsible for the untoward developments in the district.<br /><br />“Section 144 has been imposed in Sullia, Belthangady and Puttur taluks where no untoward incidents have taken place. Why are people who have not committed any mistakes being punished?” the minister asked.<br /><br />“Minister Rai should inform when RSS worker Sharath died and when it was announced. The death should not be politicised. No action was initiated against those responsible for untoward incident during SDPI leader Ashraf’s funeral procession. Cases have been registered against BJP and Sangh Parivar leaders who had come to pay homage to Sharath. This clearly shows prevalence of hate politics in the region,” Gowda said.<br /><br />“In fact, it was Minister Ramanath Rai’s direction to former SP Bhushan G Borase that provoked the spread of communal hatred in the district. The state government is trying to suppress the majority Hindus in Dakshina Kannada district. Politicians belonging to a particular category are giving shelter to murderers from Kerala,” said the minister.<br /><br />“I had appealed to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to visit Sharath’s family members and console them, but he has failed to meet our expectations,” he added. Quoting Sharath’s father, the Union minister said Sharath’s father had washed and ironed the clothes of Ramanath Rai for several years. Even for courtesy, Rai has not responded to their sorrow.<br /><br />To a query on visiting only Sharath’s house, but not Ashraf’s house, Gowda said, “I know Sharath for the last several years. He belongs to our organisation. Hence, I visited his house.” Asked if he supports the protest by Sangh Parivar workers to defy the ban order, Sadananda Gowda said that through the ban order the government had attempted to suppress the rights of protesters. In response, the protest was organised amid ban order, he clarified. Earlier, the minister met the family of Sharath and handed over a sum of Rs 50,000. <br /></div>
