Don’t target me for my faith: Karnataka Home Minister KJ George to BJP

Bengaluru: Home Minister K.J. George has accused the opposition BJP of targeting him as he belongs to a minority community (Christians). Talking to reporters here on Friday, he lambasted state BJP President Pralhad Joshi for terming him ‘ayogya’ (useless) and said it was unbecoming on the part of Mr Joshi to make such a comment on an individual holding the post of home minister of a state.

“I would not have bothered had Mr Joshi used that word against me as an individual but not against me when I am holding the home department portfolio. Mr Joshi used his political power to bail out his brother who was arrested by the CBI in a bank scam. Several BJP ministers and the then chief minister went to jail on charges of corruption and other offences when the party was in power. This shows the culture of BJP.”

Mr George said he would never interfere in the functioning of the home department and not get involved in collecting ‘hafta’ from cops. “I warn Mr Joshi not to throw stones at others while sitting in a glass house. Our government will not hesitate to ban any organisation with links to terrorist groups.

“Let BJP leaders provide evidence to prove that PFI or KFD have links with terrorists. People know what BJP leaders did to Bajrang Dal and Sri Ram Sene while they were in power for five years. We have taken a decision to withdraw cases booked against some organisations but the court has the power to either accept or reject the Cabinet decision. The BJP leaders are targeting me as I belong to a minority community”.

Replying to a question, Mr George said the Union Home Ministry had not responded to the state request for a CBI probe into the multi-crore single-digit lottery scam so far. The CID would continue with its investigation into the scam till the CBI takes up the probe. The CID would submit its findings to the CBI and not to the State government, he added.