M'lore violence: Yediyurappa lashes out at Cong

Mangalore, Oct 12: Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa today strongly criticised the Opposition Congress leaders for urging the President and the Prime Minister to sack the JD(S)-BJP coalition Government in the State on the basis of their ''hurriedly prepared report on the recent violence in Dakshina Kannada district without going into the details.''

At a press conference here after attending a meeting with community leaders along with Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, he alleged that the main aim of the Congress leaders was to destabilise the ''popular'' Government by presenting such ''false and hurriedly prepared report without assessment of facts''. The act would only boomerang on the party as the people of the State would revolt against them, he warned.

Home Minister M P Prakash was in the city during the visit of the Congress leaders. Why did they fail to meet him and officials before submitting their report to the Centre, he asked, stating that they could have discussed with the Government before going to Delhi.

Mr Yediyurappa claimed that the Congress had become like fish out of water and their only intention was to regain power by hook or crook.

Lauding the district administration and the police for taking quick steps in containing the violence, he charged the Congressmen with deliberately demoralising the police and the administration with ''unwanted failure charges'' against them and hurting district incharge and Fisheries Minister B Nagaraja Shetty who toiled day and night to contain the violence and restore peace.

Cautioning that the Government would take stern steps against elements trying to destabilise peace in the district, the Deputy Chief Minister said the Chief Minister and himself would soon take a delegation to Delhi to apprise the President and the Prime Minister about the immediate steps taken by the Government to contain the violence within a few days. It would also brief about the ''hasty'' report submitted by the Congress leaders, he added.

Mr Yediyurappa echoed the views of Mr Prakash that there was no need for any judiciary probe or CoD inquiry into the incident as the district administration was capable of conducting investigation. However, the Government would take a proper decision after receiving all reports in this regard, he added. He called upon the people of the district to maintain peace as Mangalore was the preferred destination of investors after Bangalore. The recent incidents, however, would not affect the prospects of investment flow into the district.

Mr Yediyurappa said the Government was committed to pay adequate compenstion to the victims of the violence. After receiving a report from the district administration, the Government would decide on the quantum of compensation. However, Rs one lakh had already been given to families of the two deceased.

To a query on banning illegal transportation of cattle to slaughter houses and 'unwanted bandh', which triggered the communal clashes, he said there was no such immediate plans. However, the district administration had been asked to take quick action on illegal transportation of cattle without giving scope for people to take law into their own hands. The district administration should also not allow bandh without any specific reason. The Government would also check the background of organisations like Komu Souharda Vedike, he added.

The Deputy Chief Minister said the situation in the troubled areas and the district in general had returned to total normalcy and curfew was lifted from today. Prohibitory orders would be removed within the next two days, he added.

UNI

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