Haveri/Bengaluru: Karnataka unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday alleged that there was a “conspiracy” to disturb communal harmony and intimidate Hindus following the violence during the Kara Hunnime celebrations at Naregal village in Haveri district, and demanded the immediate arrest of those responsible for the attack. He further stated that Hindus are finding it difficult to celebrate festivals.
A quarrel that started over the bursting of crackers during a bull procession organised as part of Kara Hunnime on Monday escalated and led to a group clash, resulting in injuries to six people at Naregal village of Hangal taluk in Haveri district.
Karnataka BJP president B.Y. Vijayendra visited the incident site at Naregal village on Tuesday. He gathered information about the clash and later visited the Haveri District Hospital to enquire about the health of those injured in the incident.
He met the villagers and family members of the injured persons and assured them that the party would stand with them.
Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Vijayendra alleged that a group of people attacked members of the Kuruba community during the traditional Kara Hunnime celebrations on Monday.
According to him, the incident occurred when farmers were participating in the customary bull-running event, and firecrackers were set off as part of the celebrations.
“Merely because firecrackers were burst to drive the bulls during the Kara Hunnime festival, Lohith Kurubar, Shivaraj, Jayappa, Nagappa, Mallappa, Ningaraj Kurubar and others belonging to the Kuruba community were brutally attacked. This is not the first such incident. There is a conspiracy to disturb the atmosphere in Naregal and intimidate Hindus,” Vijayendra alleged.
The BJP state president accused the police of acting at the behest of the ruling Congress government.
“The police are functioning like puppets of the ruling party. Police stations have become Congress offices. Hindus are finding it difficult to celebrate festivals such as Deepavali and Ganesh Chaturthi peacefully. If people are not even allowed to burst firecrackers as part of a traditional festival, one begins to wonder whether we are living in India or Pakistan,” he alleged.
Vijayendra criticised the government for failing to arrest the accused even 24 hours after the incident.
“The Chief Minister says that rowdies should be put behind bars. But even after 24 hours, those who allegedly severed the hands of young men from poor Kuruba families have not been arrested. Instead, attempts are being made to intimidate Hindus by registering counter-cases against them,” he claimed.
The BJP leader further alleged that the police in Haveri district were misusing their powers to target Hindu activists.
“Bajrang Dal workers, cow protection activists and their family members are being threatened through unnecessary police cases. The government is using the police machinery to suppress Hindus even after they have been subjected to brutal attacks,” he alleged.
He also criticised the local Congress MLA for allegedly failing to visit the victims after the incident. Warning of public unrest if immediate action was not taken, Vijayendra said the government must arrest those responsible without delay.
“If the attackers are not arrested immediately, there is a danger that people will be forced to take to the streets. If such a situation arises, the police administration and the local ruling party MLA will be responsible,” he said.
Vijayendra claimed that attacks on Hindus had occurred repeatedly in Naregal and urged Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and Home Minister Priyank Kharge to personally intervene and resolve the issue.
“If counter-cases are filed against Hindus, people will be left with no option but to protest and lay siege to the police station,” he warned.
Responding to another question, Vijayendra alleged that the police station had effectively become an extension of the Congress party. He also criticised the local legislator, saying elected representatives owed a responsibility to protect all sections of society.
“MLAs are elected not only with the votes of Muslims but also with the support of Hindus. It is their duty to ensure everyone’s safety. If they fail to do so, they will face the consequences in the next election,” he said.
(IANS)
