Bengaluru: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lawmaker Shobha Karandlaje on Tuesday appealed Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh to open National Investigation Agency (NIA) office in Mangaluru to keep an eye on anti-national elements.
Speaking with media persons at state BJP office here, Shobha Karandlaje said having an NIA office in Mangaluru would enable officials to monitor the movement of jihadi activists not only in and around Mangaluru but also in Dakshina Kannada district. “The situation in and around Mangaluru continues to remain tense, volatile and precarious. An eerie silence prevails. There is a fear and anxiety among the people. The need of the hour is to bring normalcy and ensure communal harmony,’’ Karandlaje said.
Coming down heavily on the failure of two ministers – Ramanath Rai and U.T. Khader – for maintaining communal harmony, the BJP lawmaker demanded Chief Minister Siddaramaiah drop them from his Cabinet. “Both of them have failed miserably in maintaining communal harmony in affected areas in Dakshina Kannada district. I demand the chief minister to sack them from his cabinet,’’ she said.
Vote bank politics
The BJP lawmaker criticized Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for not making any reference to a particular community that is responsible for the killing of Sharath Madiwala. “Siddaramaiah is afraid of mentioning the name of the community – Muslim – while addressing media persons or police officers’ meet in Bengaluru. He is not afraid to tell that stern action will be taken against Hindus or other communities found guilty but not dare enough to utter the word – Muslim,’’ Karandlaje said.
She said the chief minister has no courtesy to visit Sharath Madiwala’s parents during his visit to Mangaluru. “We expected the chief minister to console Sharath Madiwala’s parents but he choose to make a speech to create tension instead of ensuring communal harmony. He has not convened a meeting of police officers in Mangaluru to discuss about law and order situation,’’ she said.
BJP to protect Hindu youth
Asserting her right to visit Dakshina Kannada district despite elected from Udupi-Chikmagaluru parliament segment, the BJP lawmaker said she was born and brought up in Dakshina Kannada district. “I have every right to visit Dakshina Kannada district. It is unfair for Congress or any other political parties asking me not to visit Dakshina Kannada district. I will be there where Hindu youth are being attacked or killed,’’ she said.
Sack Kempaiah
Questioning the presence of Kempaiah, the advisor of home department, in the police officers’ meet held on Monday, the BJP MP opined that he should be removed from the post. “I do not know what advice Kempaiah is giving to home minister. His presence at the police officers’ meet is an embarrassment to the police department. We cannot expect peace in the state if Kempaiah continues as the advisor to the home ministry. I had already told this four years ago. The recent tension in Dakshina Kannada vindicates my statement,’’ she said.
Sand mafia
The MP from Udupi-Chikmagalur alleged the involvement of Muslim leaders in illegal sand business in Dakshina Kannada district. “These leaders belong to Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI). They are financing anti-national elements who foment trouble in the district. No action has been taken against these leaders due to vote bank politics,’’ she said.
