Congress reiterates demand for probe by Sitting Judge

Bangalore, Oct 3 (UNI) Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President Mallikarjuna Kharge today alleged the BJP Government in the state was unable to contain violence on minorities and demanded a probe by a sitting High Court Judge into the attacks on places of worship.

Talking to newspersons here, Mr Kharge, who would step down as the KPCC President on October 6, alleged that the continued attacks on places of worship, have proved beyond doubt, the collapse of the administration in the State and Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa's inept handling of the crisis.

Alleging that the attacks on places of worship continued unabated in the State from August, he said the Government has failed to curb the violence.

Reiterating the party's stand on judicial inquiry into the attacks on Churches, the KPCC Chief said ''nothing short of a probe by a sitting High Court Judge will be accepted by the Congress. The in-action on the part of the Daxina Kannada against the offenders, would be inquired by the CBI, he added.

Making a retrospection over his three-year sting as the KPCC President, he said the party has done well in the Zilla Panchayat, Taluk Panchayat elections and also topped in getting highest number of votes in the assembly elections held in May. ''The party got more than two-lakh votes than the BJP in the polls, he added.

Expressing confidence that Congress would fare better in the coming Lok Sabha elections in Karnataka, he said, out of 28 seats, Congress would increase its strength from its existing 14.

Mr Kharge said the party would stage a rally tomorrow from KPCC Office and conclude at Mahathma Gandhi statue near Cubbon park. ''We will release a publication, highlighting the BJP Government's failure in its 115-day rule in the State'' he added.

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