Date:14/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/14/stories/2008101454360600.htm

Karnataka

Yeddyurappa: no need to send team to Karnataka

P. Sunderarajan

NEW DELHI: Casting doubts on the motive of the Union Government in sending a Home Ministry team to the State following recent attacks on churches and Christians, Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa on Monday alleged that the Centre’s approach had “aggravated” communal tension, instead of reducing it.

Participating in the 14th meeting of the National Integration Council (NIC), he said, “In our considered opinion, there was no need to send a Central team to Karnataka, even after law and order was restored and for those officers to speak to the press even before submitting a report to the Union Home Ministry, especially when a judicial enquiry had been ordered. Such steps, which appear politically motivated, we feel, aggravated communal tension rather than reducing it.” He also criticised the Union government for singling out the State for sending advisory notes under Article 355 and that too when peace and normality were restored within two days due to effective and immediate steps taken by the State government.

Emphasising that there have been serious communal and terrorist incidents in Jammu and Kashmir, Assam, Tripura, Delhi, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra, he said that the Union government did not appear to be keen to send them advisory notes, while in the case of Karnataka two notes were sent in succession, “though the situation was brought under control promptly [in the State].”