Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (ANK)

Mangaluru, Jan 19: Minister for food and civil supplies U T Khader on Friday January 19 said that he did not want to cause distress to slain Ilyas' wife by counter-attacking her in response to her allegations of his links with her slain husband.

Ilyas' wife Farzana had alleged that U T Khader used to visit their residence at the time of elections and hit out at him for maintaining silence after Ilyas was murdered. A photograph of Ilyas with Khader at a function had also gone viral, but the minister had outrightly denied having any connection with the Target Group activist who was murdered on January 13.

In response, Khader, addressing a press meet here, said, "Ilyas' wife Farzana is grieving the death of her husband, so I do not want to counter-attack her for her allegations and cause her more distress. I had a word with the police department regarding Ilyas murder case. The police are hunting for clues and will nab the culprits soon.

"A picture of Ilyas and me was circulated on social media when Ilyas was in jail. But when the accused in Deepak Rao's murder case were nabbed, their pictures were not revealed and not circulated in social media. Why is it so?" he questioned.

Rani Abbakka Utsav

U T Khader announced that Rani Abbakka Utsav will be held at Kolya on February 3 and 4, and in Mysuru the following week.

"Kannada writer Sara Aboobakkar and veteran actress Vinay Prasad will be conferred with Rani Abbakka Award during the Rani Abbakka Utsav on February 3 and 4 at Kolya. Rani Abbakka Utsav will also be organised at Maharani College ground in Mysuru on February 10 and 11, where culture and tradition of Dakshina Kannada will be displayed," he said.