Vijayendra Alleges Congress Hand In Ballari Violence, Seeks HC Judge-led Probe

Ballari: Karnataka BJP president BY Vijayendra has demanded a probe by a commission headed by a sitting High Court judge into the incident that took place in front of MLA Janardhana Reddy’s residence in Ballari on Thursday night. He also urged the government to provide immediate and adequate security to Janardhana Reddy, former minister B Sriramulu, and other senior BJP leaders.

The clash between supporters of Janardhana Reddy and Bellary MLA Nara Bharath Reddy on Thursday night turned violent, during which a Congress worker died in a firing incident.

Describing the incident as a “pre-planned criminal act” allegedly carried out by Congress workers with government patronage, Vijayendra, in a post on X, said Janardhana Reddy and his family were deliberately targeted under the pretext of installing a banner for the inauguration of a Maharshi Valmiki statue.

“This incident, which was carried out by targeting Janardhana Reddy and his family, has been sought to be justified on the pretext of installing a banner for the inauguration of the statue of Maharshi Valmiki. Democracy no longer survives in Ballari. With the active connivance of the local MLA, his supporters appear to have indulged in criminal activities aimed at disturbing the peaceful life of civil society and turning the city into one gripped by fear,” he stated.

The BJP state chief further claimed that the party’s organisational strength in Ballari had increased after Janardhana Reddy rejoined the BJP, and that the renewed political coordination between Janardhana Reddy and former minister B Sriramulu had become unacceptable to “political miscreants”.

Vijayendra also alleged that local police stations were functioning under political influence and accused the police of acting at the behest of the Congress. He said the incident could have been prevented had the police taken adequate precautionary measures.