Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah slammed Hindutva groups here on Friday, November 13 and said, “VHP and Bajrang Dal are trying to disrupt peace in the state.” CM slammed opposition parties and said that they have resorted to disturb social harmony in the state under the guise of religion. Hidden animosity within them is spreading hatred among the people, he said.
“We decided to celebrate Tipu Jayanthi to announce that we all are one”, he added. His comment comes in the wake of the recent bandh call and violence across the state by pro-Hindu groups against Tipu birth anniversary.
Normal life has been paralysed due to the bandh call by right wing groups over Madikeri clashes in protest against celebrating the birth anniversary of Tipu Sultan. The bandh call given across the state turned violent and miscreants pelted stones at private and government buses in Puttur and Surathkal of Dakshina Kannada district.
VHP groups protested in front of Town hall in Bengaluru on Friday, condemning Madikeri violence. Security has been tightened in sensitive areas across the state.
Meanwhile, Home Minister G Parameshwara held a meeting with top police officials and reviewed law and order situation following the Tipu row.
The Chief Minister has ordered a magisterial probe into the Madikeri clashes and Deputy Commissioner C Shikha will lead the probe, it has been reported.
BJP MP Venkaiah Naidu, speaking on the recent Tipu row said, “Both good and bad opinions have been prevailing on Tipu Sultan. I won’t comment on local issues as a central minister,” he said.
Former Prime Minister and JD (S) supremo Deve Gowda, while commenting on the violence said that the state government’s decision to celebrate Tipu’s anniversary was wrong and that this has led to communal clashes. Earlier, Muthalik’s speech had led to violence in Hassan, he said.
The state government’s decision to hold Tipu’s birth anniversary celebrations across the state has sparked several protests by the BJP and right-wing groups. The protests turned violent in Madikeri on the day of the celebration and the unrest has been extended to Dakshina Kannada district as well. Agitating over the death of a VHP leader in Madikeri on November 10 and the murder of a youth at BC Road on November 12, the district unit of Bajrang Dal and VHP have called for dawn-to-dusk bandh on Friday, November 13. However, it received mixed response in few parts of the state as several buses were running and shops were kept open.
(Agencies)
