Daijiworld Media Network - Haveri
Haveri, May 4: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday emphasised the need for a special force to detect and curb anti-social elements in the state, especially in light of recent violent incidents in coastal Karnataka.
Addressing reporters at N D P U College in Akki Alur, Haveri district, Siddaramaiah said, “A special force is needed to identify and tackle anti-social elements effectively. I will discuss this with the Home Minister and take appropriate action.”
The chief minister was referring to a proposed task force aimed at controlling communal violence in the coastal belt, which has witnessed a series of disturbing incidents in recent weeks, including the mob lynching and murder of activist Suhas Shetty in Mangaluru.
When asked whether the Rs 25 lac compensation given by the Congress-led government to the family of Fazil Mohammad— who was murdered in 2022 — may have been misused to fund Shetty’s killing, Siddaramaiah stated, “I don’t have any details on that at this moment.”
Police investigations have revealed that Fazil’s brother, who has now been arrested, allegedly funded the murder of Shetty in retaliation for his brother’s killing. It is now being probed whether the government compensation amount was used for this purpose.
Fazil was reportedly murdered by a gang linked to Shetty in response to the killing of BJP activist Praveen Kumar Nettaru, which took place amid the hijab row in 2022.
Siddaramaiah said that home minister G Parameshwara and health minister Dinesh Gundu Rao — also the district in-charge for Mangaluru—had already visited the site of the incident. “I will speak to them and then respond further on this matter,” he added.
When asked if the state government planned to hold a special event to mark the completion of two years in office, Siddaramaiah confirmed that a two-year achievement programme would be held in Vijayanagara district.
Responding to criticism over the state’s caste census, Siddaramaiah hit out at his detractors, stating: “The same people who once opposed the caste census are now welcoming it when it is being conducted by the Central government. It’s as if sacred water becomes holy only when poured from a conch!”
He accused his critics of making politically motivated statements devoid of facts. “Earlier, they politicised it without reason. Isn’t that clear now?”
On former prime minister and JD(S) supremo Deve Gowda’s charge that the Congress is adopting a double standard on Pakistan, Siddaramaiah fired back: “Before joining hands with the BJP, what was Deve Gowda saying about Prime Minister Narendra Modi? And what is he saying now? It’s Deve Gowda who is showing double standards.”