Daijiworld Media Network - Bantwal (SP)

Bantwal, Dec 31: Dakshina Kannada member of parliament (MP), Nalin Kumar Kateel, said that the district in-charge minister, in pursuance of the state government's age-old anti-Hindu agenda, had arranged for externment of leader of Hindu Jagran Vedike, Ratnakar Shetty. "The minister used the anti-Hindu policies of the state government, and wrongly made use of police department to send Shetty out of the district because of inner fear of losing the next election," he charged, addressing a press conference at the Bantwal BJP office on Saturday December 30.

Nalin said that Hindu activists are being threatened, and they are facing physical abuse through police personnel and goondas. Another strategy Congress leaders are following is filing of false cases against innocents and arresting them, he said. He noted that Ratnakar Shetty had been absolved of all charges and the right option before the government was to question the decision in high court, not externment.

He said that the state government takes the cake in weaving plots against Hindu leaders through police and district administration, by even overtaking Kerala that is known to follow these tactics. He also accused Congress leaders and the minister of totally neglecting to follow up the case of failure of police to arrest people behind murder attempt on Hindu activist, Keshava Poojary. "I too face some cases. District in-charge minister also has some cases against him. We too could have been externed," he quipped.

BJP leader, Rajesh Naik Ulipadguthu, office bearers, Sulochana G K Bhat, K Padmanabha Kottary, B Devadas Shetty, G Anand and Ramdas Bantwal were present at the press conference.

The police have executed the order of externment of Ratnakar Shetty by taking him in police vehicle to Udupi. At the same time, the order issued against Ibrahim Khaleel has not been executed as investigation against him is pending, police sources stated.

Ratnakar Shetty was picked up during his visit to Lord Anjaneya temple at Nanvdavar on Saturday morning. The police officials approached Shetty, showed him the copy of the externment order issued by the deputy commissioner, and got him seated in police vehicle. When Shetty said he has to inform his wife, they contacted his family and conveyed information. Shetty was led to his home,where he changed clothes and packed clothes and other items he would require. Then he was dropped off at Udupi.

Out of nine cases Shetty was facing, he had been exonerated in one which related with a murder. All the other eight cases pertain to causing of disturbance, assault, disturbing peace etc. The externment order mentions that in these cases too he had been absolved three year back. The order of the deputy commissioner dated December 28 says that he was being externed because of possibility of disturbing peace in the society.

District BJP spokesperson, Jitendra S Kottary, said that BJP strongly condemns the measure taken to send Shetty out of the district. He too said that district in-charge minister, B Ramanath Rai, had a hand in this ploy. "Congress is afraid of the impending end to its political ambitions and future. Therefore, it has been trying to subdue these leaders with help from police department," he stated.

Meanwhile Nawaz Ullal, district president of Popular Front of India (PFI) has issued a statement saying Ibrahim Khaleel is not a PFI member as it appeared in the media.