Union Minister Ananth Kumar Hegde has urged the union government to take over the investigation into the death of Paresh Mesta and other Hindu activists.
Alleging the State government of trying to cover up the murders, he said we will plead with the Union government to take up the investigations. The Congress government in Karnataka is not interested in a free and fair probe, he said.
He distanced himself from the violence in Kumta and other towns in Uttara Kannada district that he represents in the Lok Sabha. He also denied that the protests were political. He said he or other BJP leaders had nothing to do with the violent protest rallies in Kumta or Sirsi.
The people of Uttara Kannada are peace loving, wise and educated. They will not join violent protest just because someone gives a call. They will judge each situation and act wisely. They will not be swayed by politics. If they are protesting, it is because they are hurt by the communal politics of Congress leaders, he said.
Neither the BJP nor any other Hindu organisations have given a call for bandh or protest in those towns. Mr Siddharamaiah is accusing the BJP of orchestrating violent protests. He should hold a mirror to his own face, Mr. Hegde said.