Kalladka row rocks Karnataka Assembly; Khader, Jain defend embattled Rai

Bengaluru, Jun 19: The controversial encounter between Dakshina Kannada district in-charge minister B Ramanath Rai and Superintendent of Police Bhushan Gulabrao Borase caused a commotion in Karnataka Legislative Assembly on Monday with legislators of ruling and opposition parties engaging in a heated argument.

The development comes after Mr Rai urged the SP to take stringent action against RSS veteran Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat if he tried to disrupt communal peace in Bantwal taluk. A secretly recorded video clip of Rai-SP meeting has gone viral on social media. In the video, Mr Rai has held Mr Bhat responsible for the communal clashes in the region.

Raising the issue during assembly session, former chief minister and leader of the opposition Jagadish Shettar charged Mr Rai of exerting pressure on police and demanded his immediate resignation. He also accused Mr Rai of targeting Hindu leaders.

Responding to Mr Shettar, Food and Civil Supplies Minister U T Khader strongly defended Mr Rai, stating that the latter never makes baseless allegations against anyone. He said that being the district in-charge minister of DK, Mr Rai was giving priority to maintain law and order while some elements were trying to spread hatred in the society. “Mr Rai will not bow to threats,” he added.

Joining the debate, Mulki-Moodbidri MLA Abhaychandra Jain too endorsed the remarks of Mr Khader. Mr Jain said that the intention behind Mr Rai’s advices to the top cop was to restore peace in Bantwal constituency and not to target anybody.

BJP MLAs were outrageous towards Mr Rai when he entered the Assembly. They demanded his clarification over the video, in which he had claimed that the Sangh Parivar was responsible for the murder of Karopady Gram Panchayat Vice President Abdul Jaleel. This triggered another debate between ruling and opposition parties.

Also Read: Mangaluru: Saffronists take to the streets against Rai for demanding arrest of Bhat