Karnataka BJP Claims Congress Government Relocated Lathi-Charge Victims

Bengaluru, Dec 12 (NationPress) The Karnataka BJP on Thursday accused the Congress-led state government of relocating the injured lathi-charge victims to an undisclosed location to prevent its leaders from meeting them.

The party announced plans to conduct a protest at the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha in Belagavi and address the issue during the ongoing Assembly session.

Leader of the Opposition, R. Ashoka, speaking to reporters in Belagavi, stated, “Our party leaders intended to visit the hospital to meet those injured in the lathi-charge during the Panchamasali Lingayat reservation stir on Tuesday. We had informed them of our plans. However, the injured individuals were suddenly moved to an undisclosed location.”

“This government is obstructing our efforts to meet those severely injured in the lathi-charge. This behavior is reminiscent of Hitler. We are unable to find out where the injured have been taken,” he added.

Ashoka indicated that the BJP would raise the matter of the assault on Lingayat protesters during the zero hour and protest near the Ambedkar statue on the premises of the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha before the session begins. “A minor incident has been exaggerated by ordering a lathi-charge on protesters,” he noted.

He criticized the Congress government for its hypocrisy, stating, “In their speeches, Congress leaders reference Basavanna, the founder of the Lingayat sect. Yet in reality, they authorize lathi-charge on Basavanna’s followers.”

“We are unsure whether we are in a democratic system or a state of emergency. During the previous BJP government, the Panchamasali Lingayat community protested without any limitations. Back then, the number of protesters was four times higher than on Tuesday,” Ashoka recalled.

“Our government took measures to ensure that the situation did not escalate. Responding to their demands, we opted to provide a reservation quota,” he said.

Ashoka further remarked, “The government has incited violence, and members of the Lingayat community were assaulted so brutally that many are now in the ICU. This is an unpardonable crime. The community seer has pointed out that no Chief Minister in history has ever ordered a lathi-charge on Lingayats, but CM Siddaramaiah did. The seer has warned of consequences.”

He condemned the government for shortening the Assembly session. “The government claimed they would run the session for 10 days but reduced it to one day, citing the Kannada Sahitya Sammelan. Another day was spent unveiling portraits of Mahatma Gandhi and Anubhava Mantapa. Two more days were lost due to the passing of former CM S.M. Krishna,” Ashoka noted.

“The government should have extended the session by a week. We could have discussed critical issues such as the Waqf board controversy, maternal deaths, the Rs 700 crore-excise scam, newborn deaths, the ration card issue, and the Panchamasali Lingayat reservation,” he added.

Ashoka also mentioned, “The BJP granted the reservation to Lingayats. The Constitution does not permit religious-based reservations for minorities. The BJP government canceled reservations for minorities and redistributed them to Lingayats, Vokkaligas, Marathas, and others in accordance with the Constitution. The Congress, engaging in vote-bank politics, has stalled the implementation of these reservations.”

He accused CM Siddaramaiah of endorsing the assault on protesters. “CM Siddaramaiah promised discussions on the Lingayat Panchamasali reservation issue. Instead of engaging with the protesters and accepting their memorandum, he ordered a lathi-charge. If he respected democracy, he would have met the protesters. The CM must apologize, and the responsible police officers must face suspension,” Ashoka demanded.

State BJP President B.Y. Vijayendra announced that all BJP MLAs and MLCs would protest on the premises of the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha.