BJP reacts as SDPI fields accused in Praveen Nettaru murder case

The NIA has filed a chargesheet against 20 persons in the Praveen Nettaru murder case. It said that the murder was carried out to spread terror and fear

The Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) has released the second list of candidates for the upcoming Karnataka assembly elections scheduled to be held in April-May.

The SDPI fielded Shafi Bellare who is an accused in the murder of BJP leader Praveen Nettaru.

Nettaru was murdered last year in Puttur, Karnataka.

The Nettaru murder case is being probed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). The agency has already filed a chargesheet against 20 members of the banned Popular Front of India (PFI) in connection with the murder.

In its chargesheet, the NIA said that Praveen Nettaru was assaulted and killed on July 26 2022 in full public view with a lethal weapon. The aim of the murder was to create terror among the people, the NIA said.

Bellare had been arrested by the NIA in connection with the murder. He continues to remain in jail and has been named as accused 9 in the chargesheet.

The SDPI had said that Bellare is innocent and said that he was a victim of political targeting.

The SDPI had said that it would be contesting the elections from 54 assembly seats. The party also released a list of 10 candidates.

BJP's stand:

The BJP has slammed the SDPI for nominating an accused as a candidate for the upcoming elections. The SDPI is giving hate a platform in the elections, the BJP said.

Times Now while citing a BJP leader said, " it is absolutely condemnable and proves that the SDPI is a fundamentalist organisation, whose sole purpose is to engage in hate crimes and increase terrorism."

BJP minister, Dr. C N Ashwathnarayan said, "I condemn the entire thing of nominating somebody who is an accused and is in jail. Bellare was involved in the murder of BJP worker, Praveen Nettaru. Will he contest the polls from prison?"