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- Published: February 21, 2022 15:11
New Delhi: The murder of Bajrang Dal activist in Karnataka’s volatile Shivamogga district last night has triggered heated exchanges & bitter war of words between political parties.
Congress has held the BJP dispensation responsible for ‘depleting’ harmony between communities in the state and demanded sacking of minister for objectionable remarks. While BJP has blamed it on ‘Muslim goons’ for the Hindu youth murder & also state party chief K Shivakumar for adding fuel to the fire.
Harsha, the 26-year-old activist was stabbed multiple times by a group of 4-5 people and he succumbed to injuries around 9 PM. State govt has promised stringent action against the accused and also informed that the culprits have been identified.
Karnataka | Body of the 26-year-old Bajrang Dal activist Harsha, who was allegedly murdered yesterday in Shivamogga, being taken to his residence amid Police security after postmortem.
Large numbers of workers of Hindu organisations join in. pic.twitter.com/6jllIkEZ0q
— ANI (@ANI) February 21, 2022
‘Murdered by Muslim goons’
Karnataka minister KS Eshwarappa, hailing from Shivamogga, described Harsha as a good worker and blamed the ‘Muslim goons’ for his murder.
“Muslim goons killed him. It happened because of DK Shivakumar’s recent statement that the national flag was removed and a saffron flag was hoisted. Shivakumar’s provocation led to all this. Such goondagiri won’t be tolerated,” said the minister.
Meanwhile, tension prevails in the city with the issue getting a communal colour and state administration has ordered closure of schools & colleges for next 2 days.
Congress calls Minister a ‘mad man’
Karnataka Congress chief K Shivakumar took strong exception to Eshwarappa’s statements and demanding his as well as Home Minister’s sacking.
Shivakumar said that the minister blurts out nonsense and he has no connection between his tongue & brain.
Shivakumar & Rural Agriculture Minister have been in attack mode over the alleged insult of the national flag.
Days ago, Eshwarappa created a national uproar with his remarks that saffron flag may replace the national flag in years to come. Congress, offended by the affront to tricolour, launched campaign against him.
Eshwarappa also alleged that the killing of a youth over hijab was because of Shivakumar’s provocative statements to which latter demanded sacking of the minister for open rabble-rousing.
‘BJP & Cong happy’, says Kumaraswamy
Former Karnataka CM HD Kumaraswamy took both national parties to task and said that both are happy and can now enjoy that they have found an issue to take political mileage from.
He said that both the national parties are giving vent to ‘violence politics’ through communal issues and his party won’t tolerate it.
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has appealed for calm and asked all to stakeholders to stop giving vent to emotional sentiments and let not violence escalate.