Mangaluru: Cong protests against BJP MP's arson threat, files complaint

Mangaluru, Jan 2: As the police hesitated to file a suo motu case against Dakshina Kannada MP Nalin Kumar Kateel who had openly threatened of setting his own constituency on fire, the local unit of Congress party on Monday lodged a complaint against the BJP leader at Konaje police station.

Addressing a protest meet organized by a Hindutva group on Sunday in front of Konaje police station Mr Kateel, one of the powerful BJP leaders in coastal Karnataka, had stated that they (Sangh pariwar) were capable of setting the district ablaze if the police failed to arrest those who involved in the murder of Karthik Raj, a local youth who was hacked to death on October 22 last year.

On Monday members of Ullal block congress led by Youth Congress leader Mithun Rai visited the Konaje police station and filed a complaint against Mr Kateel's provocative speech and demanded action against him.

Later, the Youth Congress staged a protest near Deputy Commissioner's office in Mangaluru to denounce the provocative speech of the BJP leader. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Rai said that BJP always tried to arson the coastal district whereas Congress always tried to douse the fire and establish peace and harmony.

“Being an elected representative and Member of the Parliament, Mr Kateel has not only backstabbed the people of his constituency but also threatened to set the entire constituency on fire,” he said and criticized the BJP for using the death of Karthik Raj for political gains.

He also expressed fear that BJP might create communal violence in Dakshina Kannada ahead of next Assembly polls and divide voters on communal lines. “People of the district should unite against those who intend to disturb peace for the selfish gains,” he added.

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