‘Siddaramaiah’s appeasement policy created such situation’: Minister Shobha Karandlaje on Mandya clashes

BENGALURU: Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje on Thursday launched a scathing attack on Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, accusing his “Hitler governance” and “appeasement policy” for the Nagamangala clashes.

Addressing a press conference, Shobha Karandlaje said, “Such incidents in Karnataka are happening because of your appeasement towards one community. You have given such freedom to speak and do such acts against Hindus. You took back the cases which were against PFI and release such traitors, creating such situation in Karnataka. Siddaramaiah’s Hitler governance, appeasement policy, threatening our workers of FIR and jail, creating such situation in Karnataka.”

#WATCH | Bengaluru: On stone pelting on Ganesh procession in Nagamangala, Mandya, BJP leader & Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje says, “I feel that some people came from outside and burnt 25 shops in Nagamangala. Pelted stones at the Ganpati procession and the CM says this is a… pic.twitter.com/5y4MCtH6vM

— ANI (@ANI) September 19, 2024

FIRs have been registered against Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje and Karnataka LoP and BJP leader R Ashoka on Wednesday for allegedly posting spreading false information on the clashes in the Nagamangala town of Mandya in Karnataka.

Referring to the Mandya clashes, Karandlaje further accused Karnataka government for appeasing one community, which is leading to such incidents. “You can file hundreds of cases against us. Your partner has also filed case against me in Chennai. They asked for my apology. I have told them we’ll fight it, I’m not and nowhere going to apologise for anything that I said”, said the Union Minister.

Citing the purported example of ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ slogans being raised in the legislative Assembly, Karandlaje remarked that one side they (state government) celebrate Constitution Day and the other side they are killing it through such acts.

“Palestine flags are being raised in Karnataka. Yesterday, Ashok Chakra in the Indian flag was replaced with Urdu words in the Nandini layout in Bengaluru. We heard ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ in Vidhana Soudha. What’s the wrong thing we did when we asked a question? You have filed a case against me and R Ashoka to please minorities; you’re killing the democracy. You one side celebrate Constitution Day, and the other side you’re killing it”, said Karandlaje while addressing the press conference.

Lashing out at the state government, she further questioned CM Siddaramaiah for not visiting the site of the clash in Nagamangala and the government’s inaction on the purportedly increasing incidents of raising slogans of “Pakistan Zindabad.”

She said, “Your home minister gives silly statements related to the Nagamangala incident. Chitradurga, Mysuru, Belagavi and in many programmes, such slogans were raised. In Mysore, during the Eid Milad celebration, the slogans of Pakistan Zindabad were raised. Why didn’t CM and Home Minister visit Nagamangala? It means you don’t have respect for Hindus, Hindu Gods.”

Earlier in the day, Home Minister G Parameshwara, reacting to the registration of FIRs against BJP leaders, said that the law will come into force when they go beyond the limit. “Shobha Karandlaje is a Union Minister and R Ashoka is LoP. When they go beyond the limit, naturally, the law will come into force”, the Home Minister said as he defended the decision to file the FIRs.

Parameshwara further dismissed the BJP’s claims of politicising the issue and said when there is a cause of action, there will be a reaction, which led to the registration of FIRs against them. (ANI)