'BJP politicising Janivara issue': Satish Jarkiholi slams saffron party for staging protest

Belagavi: Public Works Department and District In-charge Minister Satish Jarkiholi said that BJP leaders are politicising incidents of students being asked to cut or remove their 'Janivara' (sacred thread) during Common Entrance Test examination in a couple of centres across Karnataka.

Concerned examination centre staff were responsible for it and not government, but we saw today MLA Abhay Patil leading the protests while he does not take it to the streets for other issues.

Jarkiholi said, "The staff at the exam centre is responsible for the incident. The onus of this does not fall on the government. However, BJP MLA Abhay Patil immediately ran to lead a protest against the incident but he doesn't take to the streets for other issues."

Jarkiholi told reporters on Monday that action is being taken against the concerned and the issue should not be blown out of proportion, but BJP has resorted to politics.

He said, MLA Abhay Patil led the protests here, but does not take to streets for other issues which are of public interest. There was no need of politics over the issue which have taken place in private institutes.

Regarding his son and Youth Congress State General Secretary Rahul Jarkiholi preparing to the contest the election for Belagavi District Central Cooperative Bank, he said, "We need to hold meetings with leaders and cooperative societies. Decision regarding Rahul contesting the election has yet to be taken."