BJP accuses Cong govt of deliberate appeasement

Bengaluru: BJP has sharply criticized the Congress govt for its handling of the recent riots in Nagamangala. The party has accused the state administration of behaving like a "Taliban-like govt" and exhibiting bias in the investigation. It has also demanded accountability and a thorough investigation into the handling of the riots and the subsequent police response.
In a statement on Friday, opposition leader in the legislative assembly R Ashoka condemned the state govt's approach, highlighting discrepancies in the first information report (FIR). According to Ashoka, the FIR lists only Hindus as accused from numbers one to 23, with Muslim names appearing later. This, he argued, is indicative of deliberate appeasement by the govt.
"The communal clash during the Ganesha immersion procession and the subsequent statements by the home minister demonstrate that the state is governed by a regime favouring fundamentalists," Ashoka said. He called for the suspension of police officers responsible for the FIR and warned of potential protests if the alleged bias in the FIR is not addressed.
"Despite evidence of planned violence involving stones, petrol bombs, and swords, the Congress govt is treating this as a minor incident, sacrificing Hindus to appease extremists," he claimed.
He also questioned the lack of a strict police presence despite a similar riot at the same location last year and criticized Intelligence agencies for their apparent failure to provide timely warnings.
Additionally, Ashoka raised concerns about security lapses during the procession, the allocation of police resources, and the home minister's response to the incident. "Given the extent of property damage and the use of dangerous materials, why does the home minister minimize the incident? Has there been any undue pressure on him, or is the govt attempting to shield certain individuals?" he asked.