BJP to stage protests, accuses Congress government of being anti-Hindu

BENGALURU: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders criticized the ruling Congress government in Karnataka over arrest of a pro-Hindu activist Srikanth Pujari in Hubballi over a police case filed in 1992 during the violence in Hubballi which took place following demolition of Bari Masjid at Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh and condemning the arrest, the BJP leaders have called for a protest on Wednesday at Freedom Park in Bengaluru city against the State Government accusing it of following anti-Hindu stance.

Srikanth Pujari is alleged to have been involved in setting a torch to a shop at Durgadbail in Hubballi and cases were registered against Pujari, Raju Dharamadas and others. On December 18 last year, police took into their custody Raju Dharmadas and on Monday, Sriknath Pujari was arrested by the police over pending cases against them.

Taking exception to the arrest of Srikanth Pujari, State BJP president and MLA B.Y. Vijayendra on Tuesday questioned the rationale of the State Government in arresting Hindu activists when inauguration of Ram Temple is round the corner in Ayodhya and stated that the arrest indicated that Congress ruled State Government has time and again ought to prove its anti-Hindu stance.

Leader of Opposition and MLA R. Ashoka stated that the arrest highlighted that the Congress government had sent across a message that none should attend inauguration of Ram Mandir at Ayodhya and the State Government by way of arrest of Hindu activists has taken the step of intimidation.

Former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and BJP MLA accused the State Government of being unable to bear the construction of Ram Nadir at Ayodhya and arrest of Hindu activists is a clear case of law enforcement agencies violating the law.  

Reacting to the allegations made by BJP leaders, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah told reporters that there was no hate politics involved in the arrest of Hindu activists in Hubballi and said no innocent persons have been arrested.