Mangalore violence: Yediyurappa lashes out at Congress leaders

Mangalore, Oct 12 (UNI) 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, noting that they could have held discussions with the Government before going to Delhi.

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.

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.

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.

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