Belagavi: A political slugfest has erupted between the Congress government and the Opposition BJP over the arrest of a kar sevak, who was allegedly involved in violence after the Babri masjid demolition in 1992.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, however, justified the arrest of Srikanth Poojari and maintained that wrongdoers cannot be spared and that the action did not stem from vendetta.
Earlier, BJP leaders condemned Poojari’s arrest in connection with riots after the Babri Masjid demolition in 1992 and alleged that the Congress government in Karnataka indulged in vendetta politics. The Congress government said the arrest was made as part of a routine procedure.
Two parties continued to spar over the arrest which has snowballed into a controversy. Union Minister Pralhad Joshi meddled in the row. “When people do not agree with something, they open old cases. Now they are opening the old cases and arresting people. The person was arrested out of hatred. We are doing legal, political and social struggles on the Hubbali issue,” he said.
However, Siddaramiah outrightly denied the BJP’s charges. “The Congress does not indulge in any hate politics. No innocent man is arrested. We’ll go by the court’s direction,” he said.
He continued “What should be done to the wrongdoers? Should we just leave them?” Siddaramaiah maintained that a criminal is always a criminal unless acquitted by a court of law. He also criticised Pralhad Joshi for his ‘ignorance’ of law.
“He is talking politically and not legally. A criminal remains a criminal unless he is exonerated by the court. Does Pralhad Joshi know the law?” Siddaramaiah said.
According to Siddarmiah, Home Minister G. Parameshwara had ordered police officials to dispose of old cases. “Cops only abided by the home minister’s instruction,” he added.
Siddaramaish stressed that the arrest was made after the court’s direction came. Meanwhile, the BJP had demanded that January 22 be announced as a holiday in the state to mark the important occasion of Ram Lalla temple consecration.
Siddaramaiah said let the Centre do it since it is organising the event.
The Karnataka police on Monday arrested 50-year-old Poojary, a BJP member from Hubbali on Monday for his alleged involvement in riots following Babri Masjid demolition in 1992. Renuka Sukumar, Hubballi-Dharwad Police Commissioner said.
Karnataka BJP chief B.Y. Vijayendra termed the Congress government in Karnataka as ‘anti-Hindu’ saying the reopening of a 31-year-old case and Hindu worker Srikant Poojari smacks of ‘vendetta politics’.
“Karnataka govt is proving again and again that it is an anti-Hindu government. Yesterday in Hubballi, they reopened a 31-year-old case and Hindu worker Srikant Poojari was arrested, we strongly condemn this. We are calling for a huge protest throughout the state mainly in Freedom Park tomorrow against the Anti-Hindu government, Anti-Hindu Siddaramaiah,” he said.