CM Siddaramaiah justifies arrest of man for post Babri demolition riots, BJP calls for statewide protest

KOPPAL: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has dismissed the opposition’s allegation of hate politics in connection with the arrest of a man linked to the riots that took place after the Babri Masjid demolition in 1992.

Speaking on the arrest, CM Siddaramaiah asked, “What should be done to the wrongdoers? Should we just leave them? We have told the police to dispose of old cases. No innocents have been arrested. We will proceed according to the court’s direction”, he said while speaking to reporters during his visit to Basapur airport in Koppa.

On BJP MLA Yashpal Suvarna’s demand for a holiday on January 22 for the Ram Mandir Pran Prathistha, CM Siddaramaiah said, “I am not aware of the BJP’s demand for a government holiday. I don’t know about the leave. The central government is organising the programme and they can decide on leave”.

Responding to the controversy surrounding Ram Mandir inauguration invitation, Siddaramaiah stated, “I don’t know whom they invited or left out. Whoever goes, let them go.”

Hubballi-Dharwad Police Commissioner Renuka Sukumaran said, “In many cases, the accused go absconding. From time to time, it is a routine police procedure that in such cases, we make the effort to trace the accused. In one such case of riot which was reported in 1992, we apprehended an accused. For us, it is just another riot case”.

#WATCH | On the arrest of a person in Karnataka's Hubballi for alleged involvement in the riots after the Babri Masjid demolition in 1992, Renuka Sukumar, Hubballi- Dharwad Police Commissioner says "In many cases, the accused go absconding… From time to time, it is a routine… pic.twitter.com/Hm3cJcErSd

— ANI (@ANI) January 2, 2024

Meanwhile, the BJP condemned the arrest of the man in Hubballi for his alleged role in the post Babri demolition riots after 31 years. The Karnataka state unit has called for a protest against the state government.

Speaking on the matter, BJP state president B Y Vijayendra said, “They have arrested a Ram bhakt when the state and the whole nation is waiting for January 22. We strongly condemn this. We are calling for a protest throughout the state against the government and anti-Hindu accusations”.

“The Karnataka government 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 added.

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi said, “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”.

Meanwhile, an effigy of CM Siddaramaiah was burnt as a mark of protest against the Hubballi arrest. The demonstration was staged by Peethadheeshwar Jagadguru Paramhans Acharya of Tapaswi camp in Ayodhya.

The Ayodhya Tapaswi camp Peethadheeshwar demanded the removal of the Siddaramaiah government and urged to bring President’s rule in the state. “President’s rule is demanded. Siddaramaiah government should be removed immediately otherwise the saints of Ayodhya will march to Karnataka,” he said. “Three hundred Kar Sevaks are being falsely implicated over their alleged involvement in Babri Masjid demolition in 1992”, he added. (ANI)