TEAM HERALD
BELGAUM: Virtually contradicting the statements of Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramiah regarding plans to ban the Sree Ram Sene (SRS) in Karnataka, senior Congress leader and General Secretary Digvijay Singh stated that a ban on any organisation would not solve the problem of communal violence which has become rampant in the country.
Singh, who was in Belgaum on Wednesday to take part in a public function, said: “Imposing a ban on any organisation will not solve the problem of communal violence which has become rampant in the nation,” he said.
Singh was responding to a query at a news conference on why the Congress was not imposing a ban on organisations like SRS, along the lines of the Goa government.
Singh, however, strongly criticised SRS supremo Pramod Muthalik stating that he is involved in instigating communal tension by making highly inflammatory statements.
“Muthalik is specialised in making such statements and we need to create awareness among the people against such leaders,” said Singh.
Taking a dig at the BJP, Singh added, “These (BJP) leaders on one side speak of communal harmony and on the other side, have their loyalties with the saffron organisations which are directly or indirectly involved in instigating ethnic violence.”
“People of UP have taught BJP a befitting lesson by defeating BJP which has made ‘Love Jihad’ an issue during the campaigning,” said Singh.
and added Congress party will organise seminars all over the country to promote communal harmony.
Karnataka Excise Minister Satish Jarkiholi, Social Welfare Minister T Anjaneya, Congress MLA Feroz Sait and other Congress leaders were present at the news conference.
Siddaramiah draws flak
BELGAUM: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramiah has drawn flak in his state over attempts to ban the Sree Ram Sena (SRS), along the lines of Goa. While protests rallies were organised, effigies of the chief minister were burnt in many parts of Karnataka, SRS activists from all over Karnataka are up in arms against Siddaramiah, who had stated during his Belgaum visit last week that his government was contemplating to impose a ban on SRS in Karnataka along the lines of Goa. In his reaction, SRS Chief Pramod Muthalik insisted that Goa had not banned SRS, but his and his subordinate’s entry in Goa. He had also stated that he would personally meet CM Siddaramiah to submit his representation. “Despite our representation if Karnataka goes ahead in imposing the ban then we would go to Court,” Muthalik told reporters.
