Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi

Udupi, Feb 25: Sri Rama Sene chief Pramod Muthalik on Sunday February 25 hit out at the BJP over the issue of Hindutva and said that the Shiv Sena, with which his outfit is joining hands for the upcoming elections, would give a fitting reply to the BJP.

Speaking to reporters during his visit to Udupi to attend a private function, Muthalik said, "BJP was in power for almost five years but it failed to ban cattle slaughter in the state. What kind of Hindutva is this? Seven cases were slapped against me and I was even sent to jail. They shed tears when a Hindu activist dies, but they are mum when a Hindu activist has to make rounds of the court."

Attacking the Congress, he said, "Both the Congress and the BJP are riding piggyback on Hindus to win the elections. Congress' appeasement led to the birth of terrorism in the country. Only now they remember Hindus. After getting wiped out from the centre, they have now awakened to the fact that it is not enough to go to dargahs and mosques alone, but also visit temples. All this is just drama and nothing else.

Commenting on reports about the arrest of a right-wing activist in Gauri Lankesh murder case, he said, "The arrested man is an activist of my outfit. But to say that he is the one who committed the murder is wrong. He is not the type of person who woud commit murder. Just because a pistol was found, it does not mean he is the murderer.

"They (police) have simply arrested a random person and projected him as the culprit. This shows the failure of the state government. They have still not been able to arrest the culprits in Gauri Lankesh and Kalburgi murder cases. This has become a challenge to the home ministry. The government is just trying to cover up its failures," he said.

On the upcoming elections, he said, "Sri Rama Sene will join hands with the Shiv Sena. We have formed a committee of nine persons for the purpose. Shiv Sena has decided to contest from 52 constituencies. I will contest from Sringeri or Terdal. Our activists have responded positively.

"We are bigger proponents of Hindutva than the BJP, whose brand of Hindutva is fake. They welcomed S M Krishna from Congress, but they do not want a person like me who has struggled for Hindutva for 40 years. What moral right does BJP have to speak about Hindutva?" he questioned.

"Shiv Sena will give a fitting reply to the BJP. The BJP itself is responsible for division of votes among Hindus. There is no question of any compromise with the BJP. The door is closed and we have gone far ahead," he declared.