The former MLA and Congress leader Ashok Pattan has alleged that some BJP leaders were trying to foment communal violence and protests in the district by trying to falsely implicate his follower Mohammad Shafi Benne on sedition charge.
He told presspersons here on Wednesday that Ramdurg MLA Mahadevappa Yadwad and other BJP leaders made false allegations of anti-nationalism against Mr. Benne and organised protests in the wake of the Lok Sabha elections .
On Friday, pro-Pakistan slogans had appeared on the Facebook page of Mr. Benne. BJP protested in Ramdurg and Belagavi and sought his arrest on the charge of sedition. Belagavi district police later found out that the posts were put up by Mr. Benne’s friend-turned-foe Nagaraj Mali, who allegedly sought revenge against him over a financial dispute.
“Mr. Yadwad accused me of protecting my follower from police action. His son and relatives gathered outside the police station, stoned some shops and shouted anti-minority slogans near the Ramdurg mosque. The police should take action against all these,” Mr. Pattan said.
Angadi flayed
“Till now I had thought Suresh Angadi, MP, was a sophisticated gentleman. But he has turned out to be someone different. He has stooped to the level of sitting on the steps of the SP’s office, calling Mr. Benne as an anti-national and seeking his death. He should change his behaviour. He should not do cheap politics for electoral gains,” he said.
Mr. Pattan also suspected a conspiracy behind the whole episode and sought a detailed inquiry. “Within five minutes of pro- Pakistan messages appearing on Mr. Benne’s Facebook page, there were 500 people in front of the Ramdurg police station. How is this possible if this was not preplanned?” he wondered.
He urged the Union government to amend the law so that persons who falsely implicate others on sedition charges should be hanged to death.
The former MLA Firoz Sait, Congress district president Vinay Navalagatti and others were present at the press conference.