Date:21/01/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/01/21/stories/2007012110260400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

JD(U) condemns Friday's violence

Special Correspondent

BANGALORE: The Janata Dal (United) has condemned Friday's violence in some parts of the city following a meeting organised by the People's Front. In a press release, the party State vice-president Mohammed Nazeer Ahmed said the protest was "untimely and unwarranted". If the Front was sincere in its attempt to condemn the execution of Saddam Hussein, it could have observed it in a "symbolic as well as dignified way", he said.

He alleged that the show of strength of Muslims was put up to divert the attention from the Sachar Committee report.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader S. Suresh Kumar has questioned intellectuals for their silence on the issue.

In a press release, Mr. Suresh Kumar wondered why intellectuals who showed eagerness to protest against the Virat Hindu Samajotsava were conspicuously silent on Friday's violence.

Probe sought

The Karnataka Komu Souhardha Vedike has condemned the Friday's violence. Vedike convenor H.V. Vasu, in a press release, termed the violence in which innocent people were injured as "unfortunate." He alleged that some miscreants had misused the occasion of a public meeting to spread violence. An impartial inquiry should be held to identify the culprits and punish them. He expressed concern that some miscreants and organisations were trying to disturb the communal harmony.