Congress trying forge alliance with Owaisi, SDPI: Shobha

BJP leader Shobha Karandlaje on Tuesday charged that the state Congress leadership is making concerted attempts to forge an alliance with Asaduddin Owaisi-led All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) and the SDPI.

A day after denying that the BJP had any tacit understanding with AIMIM, Shobha said it is the Congress which is making such overtures. "Chief minister and KPCC chief have deputed several of their party MLAs to explore the opportunities for an alliance with Owaisi's AIMIM and SDPI. After the BJP exposed Congress' intentions, it is now trying to turn tables by making baseless accusations. The government is hatching a conspiracy to misguide the electorate. It should provide proof for the charges it has made against the BJP."

The BJP also said that the main agenda of the organisers of 'Gauri Day', which was observed on Monday to commemorate slain journalist Gauri Lankesh's 56th birth anniversary, was to attack the BJP and the prime minister.

"Not a single speaker spoke about Gauri, her contributions or the government's failure to apprehend her attackers. The event was used as an election platform to attack the BJP. The BJP strongly condemns this," said BJP leader S Suresh Kumar. He said she was shocked to hear freedom fighter
H S Doreswamy state that Gauri's attackers are from Dakshina Kannada.

BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa clarified that the party does not have any agreement with Owaisi. Speaking to reporters before taking part in a Harijan convention at Anaj in Mayakonda Assembly constituency, he said the party has not held talks with any minority organisations so far and this has been clarified by the BJP national leaders.

In Vijayapura, state JD(S) chief H D Kumaraswamy, has urged the home minister to make public if he has any information about "internal agreement" between the BJP and AIMIM. He said the Congress leaders were making such allegations with the fear that they will lose Muslim votes.