BJP sees SDPI's role in Deepak's murder, seeks Siddaramaiah's scalp

The state BJP on Thursday demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for "failing" to protect the lives of Hindu activists.

Addressing a press conference here, BJP state general secretary C T Ravi said 24 Hindu activists had been killed in the state in the last four years including Deepak Rao, who was murdered near Suratkal in Dakshina Kannada district on Thursday.

"These killings prove there is no safety and security to the common man. This is also an indication of the collapse of law and order. What government is in existence in the state? Civilian government or Taliban government?" he said.

Ravi charged that the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) was directly involved in the murders and the organisation had the support of the state government. "The Congress government has withdrawn 175 cases that were filed against members of the organisation. After this, the killing of Hindu activists has been going on unabated," Ravi said.

The BJP leader said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had never shown the political will to crush "terror elements"  and "anti-social" elements in the state.

He wanted to know why the Congress government was hesitant to send a report to the Centre about banning SDPI and Popular Front of India.

The BJP has demanded that the probe into the murder of Deepak Rao should be handed over to the National Investigating Agency.

Yogi visit confirmed

The BJP confirmed the participation of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in the third-leg of the Parivarthana rally in Bengaluru on January 7. The party is planning to hold the mega convention at the Balagangadharanatha Grounds in Vijayanagar.