BJP to protest against killings of party workers, Tipu Jayanti

BENGALURU: Alleging the “government’s hand” behind the killing of RSS and party activists in the state, Karnataka BJP President B S Yeddyurappa on Sunday said his party would hold protests across the state on November 8 against the murders and Tipu Jayanti celebration.

“We will be holding protests across the state on 8th (November) against the adamant decision to celebrate Tipu Jayanti amidst killing of youths belonging to Hindu organisations and even in the wake of an atmosphere that has been created recently in Karnataka, where murders are taking place in the way it used to happen in Kerala and Tamil Nadu,” Yeddyurappa told reporters here.

He said “in a way there is government’s hand behind the killing of RSS and BJP leaders, it is our clear opinion. If there is a CBI or NIA inquiry, things will be clear”, he said.

“It will be clear which minister has his hands behind it and how Siddaramaiah (Chief Minister) is supporting such activities...truth will come out from the investigation,” he said.

BJP has been alleging political conspiracy behind the series of incidents, where the party and the Sangh parivar activists have been killed. It also blamed “unholy nexus between Jihadists and Marxists” behind these murders.

Rudresh (35), a RSS worker, was allegedly hacked to death by two motorcycle-borne men on October 16. He was with his friends after attending a Sangh event when the incident occurred. Five persons including the Popular Front of India (PFI) Bengaluru President have been arrested in connection with the incident so far.

A BJP worker, who is also a RSS activist, was on Friday found dead in mysterious circumstances near Magali in Mysuru district with his family and the party alleging it was a murder.

Also, the Congress government’s decision to observe the birth anniversary of Tipu Sultan, 18th century ruler of erstwhile Mysore kingdom, on November 10 has stirred a major row, with opinion sharply divided among intellectuals, academia and various communities and organisations, which have different views on his reign.

BJP and RSS have been strongly opposing the event, which last year had lead to violence in Madikeri and parts of coastal districts.