BJP slams Congress for turning Karnataka into 'jungle state'

BJP MLAs staged a massive protest in front of the state legislature in Bengaluru on Wednesday, alleging a break down of law and order in the state. Former chief minister Basavaraj Bommai who led the protest, submitted a petition to Governor Thaawar Chand Gehlot, saying common citizens were at risk.

The opposition party cited the recent killing of Digambar Jain seer Muni Kamkumar Nandi Maharaj, along with murders of a constable, a Yuva Brigade member and a few other citizens across the state.

Speaking to the media, Bommai described Karnataka as a "jungle state" and said the party had requested the governor to bring the situation in the state to the attention of the Centre. "Assassins have no fear. Even the police officers who tried to stop criminal activities were murdered," he said.

Last month, a police constable was mowed down in Kalaburagi, allegedly by members of the sand mafia he was monitoring.

Nandi Maharaj was found in pieces on Saturday in Hirekodi in Belagavi district, two days after he went missing. The police caught the murder suspects the same day and said they confessed to the crime. The gruesome crime saw state-wide protests, and Jain monks in Karnataka and neighbouring Maharashtra went on a hunger strike, demanding capital punishment for the accused.

They withdrew their protest on Tuesday after home minister G Parameshwara assured them that the monks would be provided security. On a visit to Jain ashrams in Varur, Bastwad and Chikkodi, he criticised the BJP for "politicising" the issue.