Bengaluru: A video of Ramanath Rai, Minister for Forests, directing the Dakshina Kannada superintendent of police to file an attempt to murder case against RSS leader, Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat in a case of communal rioting, rocked the Legislative Assembly on Monday, with BJP members demanding his resignation.
Raising the issue soon after the House assembled on Monday, they accused Mr Rai of interfering in the police investigation into a communal riot, only to appease the minority community and accused him of being behind most of the communal riots in the district.
Quoting the Dakshina Kannada SP, leader of the opposition, Jagadish Shettar said police investigation had revealed that a group of people had caused the rioting under the influence of narcotics and criticised the minister for trying to implicate the RSS leader in the case despite this.
Defending himself, Mr Rai said he was disliked by communal elements among both Hindus and Muslims. "I don't hate anyone and have never supported anyone involved in murder. If anyone can prove otherwise, I will resign from politics,'' he declared.
Claiming that members of the Sangh Parivar were behind the Kalladka violence, he alleged they were also involved in the daylight murder of a Gram Panchayat member and had sheltered the murderers in their homes.
“Since Mr Bhat had made provocative speeches, I directed the Superintendent of Police to file cases against such people, whoever they might be,” he added.
As heated arguments broke out between the Bharatiya Janata Party and Congress members on the issue, Assembly Speaker K.B. Koliwad assured the House that he would ask the Home Minister to respond to the concerns of the opposition.
