Bengaluru: Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy on Monday expressed happiness over no untoward incident during New Year celebrations on Brigade and MG Road in the city.
“Around one lakh people gathered on Brigade Road and MG Road to celebrate the New Year. No untoward incident took place as police beefed up security,’’ Ramalinga Reddy told reporters here on Monday.
The minister said the police took preventive measures to avoid any untoward incident during the New Year celebrations.
Cong to retain power
The minister has said Congress will come to power at the Centre during the next Lok Sabha elections.
“Now, BJP is in power at the Centre. It will be Congress turn to come to power at the Centre in 2019,’’ he said.
He has also said that Congress would retain power in Karnataka. “We are sure to retain power in Karnataka,’’ he said.
We are also Hindus
Reacting to Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilisers Ananth Kumar alleging that Congress Government in Karnataka is anti-Hindu, the minister said Congress leaders and workers are also Hindus.
“We too follow Hindu rituals and customs with devotion. No one has a patent on Hinduism. BJP leaders are using Hindu card keeping an eye on the forthcoming elections to the State Assembly,’’ he said.
The minister said that politicians visiting temples during the elections was quite normal.
“Not only BJP leaders but also others participate in functions to celebrate Rama Navami, Hanuma Jayanthi,’’ he said.
The minister said the state government would extend cooperation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) which is probing the murder of Paresh Mesta.
“BJP leaders are alleging that 22 Hindus were killed in communal violence but among them eight people killed due to personal enmity. BJP leaders are not interested to tell the truth about these murders,’’ he said.
Coming down heavily on BJP MP Shobha Karandlaje for challenging Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to arrest her, the minister wondered whether Karandlaje was bigger than the law.
“Is it possible for the Chief Minister or me to arrest Shobha Karandlaje? Police will take action as per the law,’’ he said.
Case registered
The home minister has said the police have registered a complaint against BJP workers for attacking Mahadayi activist Veeresha Sobaradamath. The complaint said that BJP workers attacked him for staging a protest in front of BJP office.
“Police will take action after investigating based on the complaint,’’ the minister said.
