Tipu Sultan Jayanti deaths: BJP holds state government responsible

BENGALURU: The BJP attempted to gherao Karnataka's state secretariat Vidhana Soudha where the Legislature is in session, demanding restoration of law and order in the state after the communal disturbances over Tipu Sultan Jayanthi.

The party leaders also took out a procession, addressed a public meeting and submitted a memorandum to Governor Vajubhai Rudabhai Vala, asking him to caution chief minister Siddaramaiah and get him to “restore a semblance of governance" in the state.

While none of the Union ministers from the state participated in the event, all the state leaders, including party vicepresident B S Yeddyurappa made it a show of unity against Siddaramaiah.

Holding the state government responsible for the loss of life and property over Tipu Sultan Jayanthi celebrations held on November 10, the BJP accused it of dividing the state on communal lines.

"The adamant approach of the state government to celebrate Tipu Sultan Jayanthi resulted in the loss of four lives and communal tensions, riots in Kodagu, Dakshina Kannada, parts of Hassan and Gulbarga," the memorandum said.

Siddaramaiah has an aversion to the majority community, the memorandum said, adding that vindictive cases were being foisted on Hindus and Hindu organizations.

The memorandum touches upon the alleged corruption by social welfare minister H Anjaneya, known to be close to the CM. It also raises the issue of women's safety and accuses Siddaramaiah of being "indifferent" to such issues.