Congress targets H D Kumaraswamy over 2006 violence

Bengaluru, DHNS: The Karnataka Congress on Friday recalled the law-and-order breakdown after the death of thespian Dr Rajkumar when H D Kumaraswamy was the chief minister of the JD(S)-BJP coalition government in 2006.

Addressing a news conference, KPCC communications chief Ramesh Babu said Rajkumar died on April 12, 2006 and lakhs of fans swarmed into Bengaluru from across the state. At least eight people died.

"The violence during Rajkumar's funeral procession stands as a dark chapter in Bengaluru’s history. As CM, Kumaraswamy was widely held accountable for the administrative negligence and delayed crisis response that cost innocent lives," Babu said.

Responding to this, Kumaraswamy said: "I have respect for Rajkumar. But his family made the news of his death public before informing us (government). Thus, it became difficult to control the developments. I was also the CM when Ambareesh died (in 2018) and we ensured there were no untoward developments."