Vijayendra demands judicial probe into Maddur violence

State BJP president B.Y. Vijayendra hit out at the State government, holding it responsible for the clashes in Maddur during Ganesha festival procession on Sunday and sought a judicial inquiry into the matter.

Speaking to reporters in Maddur on Wednesday, Mr. Vijayendra said that the intelligence and the police should have anticipated the violence and deployed adequate security measures to thwart it. He challenged the State government to invoke the provisions of the Goonda Act against those who indulged in stone pelting during the Sunday’s procession and condemned the FIR registered allegedly against the Hindus, including a woman.

Referring to Home Minister G. Parameshwara’s statements that it was a minor incident, Mr. Vijayendra urged the former to pay a visit to Maddur to apprise himself of the ground situation.

Referring to the presence of senior party leaders in Maddur, Mr. Vijayendra said the BJP was not alone, and even the Janata Dal (Secular) workers were supportive of the pro-Hindu groups, which took out the procession. ‘’Our presence is to infuse courage in them,” said Mr. Vijayendra. He hit out at the district in charge Minister N. Cheluvarayaswamy for making ‘’objectionable remarks’’, and the Chief Minister for blaming the BJP for allegedly disturbing communal harmony.

 “When stones were stockpiled or conspiracies were being hatched, the government should have woken up then. Instead, they are now blaming Hindus and the BJP,” he alleged, adding that the State government’s approach to law and order situation had led to the incident.

Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, R. Ashok, spoke in a similar vein and alleged that the Congress was letting the perpetuators of violence to go scot-free and hence there was recurrence of stone pelting incidents.

Mr. Ashok accused the Congress of pursuing a “policy of appeasement” and indulging in ‘’vote bank politics’’ to remain in power. Describing the Maddur incident as a ‘’pre-planned’’ act, Mr. Ashok said the intelligence department should have anticipated it and prepared adequately to foil such attempts during the immersion time.