Paresh Mesta killing: BJP plans Jail Bharo

Hubballi: Union Minister, Anant Kumar Hegde has decided to take his attack on the state government over the  killing of Sangh Parivar and BJP activists up a notch by  launching a "Jail Bharo" campaign from December 19 onwards in Uttar Kannada district.

Speaking to reporters here after visiting the riot-torn  town of Siri, he said  the campaign would later be extended to all districts across the state for an indefinite period. "There is Congress-sponsored terrorism everywhere in Karnataka and the state government has foisted cases of attempt to murder against innocent Hindu youth," he charged, adding that the BJP also planned to hold a massive protest rally in Honnavar on December 18 to condemn the "murder" of  Hindu activist , Paresh Mesta.

 Condemning the police lathicharge of  protesters  in Sirsi during a rally over the activist's death, he claimed  there was a good chance the state government could destroy evidence in the alleged murder of Paresh before the case was  handed over to the CBI for investigation. 

"I believe the state government may have played a key role in the outbreak of the recent violence.  Innocent officials have become disillusioned with its policy of divide and rule by instigating riots. I condemn the police atrocities against the peace loving people of Sirsi and the false cases lodged against them," Mr Hegde said, calling for a probe into the role of outsiders in the violence in Uttar Kannada district. Insisting that the inquiry should cover the attack on  student, Kavya Naik on Thursday, he added, " I am confident the BJP will receive a good response from the people to its jail bharo movement."  

Sauharda Vedike: there will    be more saffron violence
The sudden flare-up of communal trouble with the paresh mesta issue in uttara Kannada district,  the recent moral policing incident in Udupi and Dakshina Kannada  and  rumours about a " love jihad" episode in Moodabidri is being seen by some as the deliberate handiwork of saffron outfits to drum up support for the BJP with  just a few months to go for the assembly elections.

"The BJP and the Sangh Parivar are going all out to capture Karnataka. These incidents clearly indicate that saffron outfits are trying to polarise  society. They have no other issue to harp on . While earlier they would speak about corruption, they cannot do so now as they too are facing corruption charges. So their only option is to focus on communal issues. I feel the number of such cases will increase in  coming months as the polls approach," says Mr Suresh Bhat Bakrabail , district president of the Komu Sauhardha Vedike , which has been fighting communal forces in the coastal districts of the state.

Observing that the coast is always on the boil, he notes that even a small issue can spark trouble here. 

"Of late the BJP and Sangh Parivar have been busy with their communal agenda  in Mysuru and Chikkamagaluru. Now it is the turn of the coast," he claims, alleging that the BJP is working on its national president, Amit Shah's instructions during his recent visit to the state to get aggressive to strengthen the party in Karnataka. 

Some police officers too believe  the BJP is trying to foment trouble for its political ends, but warn its strategy could backfire. 

"People in the coastal region are fed up with these communal incidents. We saw the result  in the last Assembly election held in 2013 when the BJP lost on the coast. If ithe party continues on these lines and keeps inciting communal trouble, it may suffer similarly this time too," they claim.