‘Rahul must hold candlelight vigil in Bengaluru’

Stating that over 800 Dalit women were raped in Karnataka during the Congress rule, Bharatiya Janata Party national spokesperson Meenakshi Lekhi has said AICC president Rahul Gandhi should hold a candlelight vigil in Bengaluru.

Speaking to presspersons here on Thursday, Ms. Lekhi said Mr. Gandhi, who held a candlelight vigil at India Gate over incidents at Kathua and Unnao, should hold a similar one in Bengaluru considering the rape of Dalit women and murder of 7,523 women in the State.

The Congress government has failed on all fronts in its rule. In 2015, the State witnessed the maximum number of communal clashes and the same year the government withdrew 175 cases against those from PFI and SDPI. “Isn’t the Congress directly responsible for communal clashes in the State,” she asked.

Ms. Lekhi wanted to know why Chief Minister Siddaramaiah raised the issue of a separate flag for Karnataka only months before the elections. She alleged that the State government was attempting polarisation by raking up the issue ahead of elections. She also alleged that the government harassed honest officials.

Answering a question on the involvement of former Minister G. Janardhana Reddy in the campaign, Ms. Lekhi said the party had no relationship with him. “If he campaigns for a candidate for friendship, what has the party to do with it?” she said.