Communalism takes wings whenever Congress is in power: Deve Gowda

BANGALORE: Former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda today alleged that ccommunal elements raised their heads during Congress rule in Karnataka.

"We have seen earlier in the state that whenever Congress is in power, the communal elements take wings. This is because of the wrong policies of the party that stokes communal tension," he told reporters here.

The statement comes in the wake of a communal clash in Chikamagalur yesterday as large number of people took to the streets following alleged desecration of a religious place in the town.

The JDS leader asked the Congress government to take strict action against those responsible for the communal clash.

Gowda also threatened to launch an agitation if the government failed to arrest the culprits. The communal elements have to be curbed in districts like Dakshin Kannada, Chikmagalur and Udupi, he said.

He also castigated BJP for fomenting communal disharmony in the state.

On the recent Nanded Express mishap, in which 26 people were charred to death yesterday, Gowda said the railway authorities should dismantle old bogies and introduce new ones to avoid similar tragedies in future.