If I had time, fringe outfits would have been finished, says R Ramalinga Reddy

Bengaluru: Calling Dakshina Kannada "a terror factory," Home Minister R Ramalinga Reddy declared in the Legislative Council on Wednesday that he would have destroyed fringe elements of both Hindus and Muslims, who were disturbing the peace and quiet of the coastal districts had he been given his portfolio of the home department sooner.

Replying to an adjournment motion moved by the Opposition BJP against the killing of Hindu activists over the last few years in the state, Mr Reddy said the PFI and SDPI (which are considered pro-minority) on the one hand and the RSS, Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishat on the other were vitiating the atmosphere in the coastal districts like Dakshina Kannada.

"While 13 members of the Sangh Parivar have been killed by Muslim anti-social elements, 11 Muslim members of the PFI and SDPI have been murdered by Sangh Parivar activists. Unfortunately, Dakshina Kannada district has become a terror factory. I would have definitely destroyed that factory had I been given the home portfolio two years ago. But I will see to it that any organisation, be it Hindu or Muslim, is shown its place in the next two or three months (before the elections)," he vowed.

Noting that the previous BJP government in the state did not ban the PFI or SDPI either, he said the state government would deal with all organisations like PFI, SDPI, Bajrang Dal, VHP and RSS without partiality.

" I have even strictly told the cops to put Congress workers behind bars if they were involved in criminal activity," he added.

Accusing the saffron outfit leaders of politicising the murder of Santosh, a resident of Chinnappa Garden in JC Nagar in the city, he said the investigation had revealed he was killed over some personal rivalry.

"I can proudly say that the law and order situation is quite good in the state," he maintained.