Peace loving people of Uttara Kannada are hurt by communal politics of Cong: AK Hegde

Union Minister Anant Kumar Hegde has directly held chief minister Siddaramaiah-led Congress government of Karnataka responsible for the violence in Uttara Kannada district. 

Mr Hegde has also urged the union government to take over the investigation into the deaths Hindutva activists in Karnataka. According to him Paresh Mesta, whose dead body was found in Honnavar under mysterious circumstances last week was also a Hindutva worker. 

Some Hindutva groups had imposed bandh in Kumta on Monday and in Sirsi on Tuesday demanding the arrest of the “culprits” behind the death of Mesta. According to them, Mesta was tortured and murdered by Muslim goons and then dumped into a lake.

Even though the post-mortem report has proved that most of the claims of BJP and other Hindutva groups were false, the saffron groups have continued protest in the Uttara Kannada districts.

However, Mr Hegde, who represents Uttara Kannada in Lok Sabha, distanced himself from the violence in Kumta and other towns in the district. He also denied that the protests were political. He said he or other BJP leaders had nothing to do with the violent protest rallies in Kumta or Sirsi.

The people of Uttara Kannada are peace loving, wise and educated. They will not join violent protest just because someone gives a call. They will judge each situation and act wisely. They will not be swayed by politics. If they are protesting, it is because they are hurt by the communal politics of Congress leaders, he said.

“Neither the BJP nor any other Hindu organisations have given a call for bandh or protest in those towns. Mr Siddharamaiah is accusing the BJP of orchestrating violent protests. He should hold a mirror to his own face, Mr. Hegde said.