Congress demands judicial probe into Mangalore communal violence

Bangalore, Oct 17 (UNI) The Opposition Congress today categorically rejected the Janata Dal (Secular)and Bharatiya Janata Party coalition government's decision to appoint a Corps of Detectives (COD) inquiry into the recent communal violence in Mangalore in which two people were killed and demanded probe by either a sitting or retired judge of the Supreme Court.

Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President Mallikarjuna Kharge talking to newsmen here said that the COD inquiry would not bring out the facts and persons behind the clashes.

Stating that the ruling parties have stage managed the clashes and the JD(S) Dakshina Kannada District President Vasant Bangera himself had pointed out that one of the Ministers, belonging to the BJP was involved in the clashes, he said under such circumstances the truth would be buried in a COD inquiry.

Even police officials in the District were pleading helplessness over the issue in view of the involvement of BJP leaders, he claimed and said only a judicial probe would bring to the fore the cause for the clashes.

He said the COD inquiry was restricted only to the two murders and not the entire episode where communal forces violated curfew order and indulged in arson and violence.

He said the Congress would in November carry out a month-long state wide agitation highlighting the failures of the Coalition government.

During the campaign nine issues would be taken up including irregularities in issue of ration cards to people below poverty line, favouritism shown to BJP and JD(S) legislators in developmental works, corruption and non performance besides irregularities in implementation of employment guarantee scheme.

UNI VK MSP AB Mir BD1513