Date:18/09/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/18/stories/2008091860911200.htm

National

Reign of terror in parts of Karnataka: Congress

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: Condemning the communal violence in Karnataka, the Congress on Wednesday demanded that Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa fulfil his constitutional responsibility and protect the lives and property of the people.

Accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party government and the Chief Minister of being a silent spectator to the “terrible, planned, targeted communal attacks against unprotected and innocent citizens,” the Congress said Mr. Yeddyurappa, instead of taking action to control the situation, was “inciting further violence by talking about conversions and reconversions.”

Party spokesperson Jayanthi Natarajan charged that BJP’s sister bodies such as the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and the Bajrang Dal were targeting innocent citizens and there was a reign of terror in parts of Karnataka.

The party said these incidents were occurring in view of the coming elections under a planned BJP policy.