Sabre-rattling in both Houses over law and order situation

The war of words between the Congress and the BJP on the law and order situation in the state was played out in both the Houses on Tuesday.

In the Assembly, BJP members said criminal activities in the state had reached an all-time high and the Home department had lost its significance. Congress members vociferously objected to the charges and said making such claims repeatedly would only portray the state in poor light, affecting investments.

As soon as the House met, Leader of the Opposition Jagadish Shettar sought to move an adjournment motion on the law and order situation. He said 26 BJP/RSS workers had been murdered in the last four years. Bengaluru had earned the dubious distinction of being a "crime city", "murder city"and "rape city".

Industries Minister R V Deshpande and Bengaluru Development Minister K J George said making such "sweeping statements" damaged the reputation of the state and Bengaluru.

George charged the BJP with playing politics over the dead. "Those who are murdered suddenly become BJP workers. You should be ashamed of indulging in such acts for political gains," he said. This statement led to a heated exchange of words between George and BJP members, with the former losing his cool several times.

Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy said Prime Minister Narendra Modi talked about ease of doing murders in the state. "What happened in Gujarat? Who chopped 2,000 people," he asked.

Seeking a ban on outfits like SDPI and PFI, Shettar said that the government had not taken the step, despite the police furnishing a report in this regard.

He said, in addition to rapes and murders, online Matka was thriving in the state. He charged that the government was doing nothing about illegal immigration of Bangladeshis into the state.

Referring to the recent circular pertaining to withdrawal of cases against minority community members in cases of communal violence, he said Karnataka was witness to the highest number of murders for communal reasons, owing to the Congress government's vote-bank politics.

Reddy said he had evidence that Sangh Parivar members were involved in instigating violence. He said Congress leader in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjuna Kharge would raise the issue in parliament soon. Ashoka sought to know why Reddy had kept quiet so far, if he had evidence.

An adjournment motion on the issue was moved in the Legislative Council as well. BJP leaders staged a symbolic walkout, protesting the absence of the home minister and the officials concerned.

"Karnataka has become a haven for rapists and murderers. There's a rape reported once every two days and a murder every three days," Leader of the Opposition K S Eshwarappa said, quoting news reports.