'Undeclared emergency in Karnataka': Shobha Karandlaje attacks Congress government

Bengaluru: Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje on Thursday alleged that there seems to be an "undeclared emergency" in Karnataka, and likened Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to Hitler, as she hit out at the Congress government for filing cases against her and Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly R Ashoka. She said that neither she nor her party workers and leaders will be cowed down by such cases and threats and that they will continue to fight the government's alleged "appeasement politics."

FIRs have been registered against Karandlaje and Ashoka on the charges of allegedly sharing "false information" on social media in connection with the recent violence at Nagamangala town in Mandya district.

"There is a kind of undeclared emergency in Karnataka. Siddaramaiah has become Hitler after becoming the Chief Minister. FIRs are being registered against BJP parliamentarians and legislators continuously. For the first time in the history of the state, FIRs have been registered against the Leader of Opposition and a Central minister, also against Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya," Karandlaje said.

Addressing a press conference here, the Union Minister of State for Labour and Employment said FIRs have been also registered against BJP legislators like Harish Poonja, Basangouda Patil Yatnal, Arvind Bellad and Bharath Shetty, and "in this way the Congress is trying to suppress BJP and its leaders."

"I want to ask Siddaramaiah regarding -- Ivan D'Souza (Congress leader) had threatened the Governor with Bangladesh-like consequence, our Mangaluru workers are everyday going to police station, giving complaint, but still it has not been taken up, till today no FIR has been registered against him," she said.

Further pointing out that no case has been registered against Yadgir Congress MLA Channareddy Tunnur and his son in a case linked to the death of Police Sub-Inspector Parashuram, and Special Investigation Team probe report has not mentioned the name of former Minister B Nagendra in the multi-crore Valmiki ST Development Corporation scam, Karandlaje asked, "What are you trying to turn Karnataka into?"

Questioning as to what the mistake on her part or Ashoka was and for what crime FIRs were registered against them, she said it looks like questioning the government was their crime.

"To appease minorities, you (govt) are murdering democracy.... a government that should function in accordance with the Constitution is not there in Karnataka," she alleged.

Alleging that "Pakistan Zindabad" slogans were raised in CM's home district of Mysuru during Eid-e-Milad procession on Monday, she said, "because of the Congress government's lenient stand, and its appeasement politics, you are making Karnataka's majority Hindus a scapegoat."

Alleging that BJP and Hindu activists are being threatened by filing cases, Karandlaje said, "This is Siddaramaiah's administration. I urge you to leave this mindset. We will not be cowed down by such threats, file hundred FIRs if you want, we won't fear and will continue to fight.... people will teach you a lesson."

Citing the violence in Nagamangala during a Ganesh idol procession, she sought to know as to who those behind the violence and torching shops and vehicles are.

"As per reports people had come from Kerala, who are they, how and why did they come? You (govt) have tried to shut Nagamangala violence case. Your police are trying to close the case as though it was a non-incident. (G) Parameshwara (Home Minister) says it was a minor incident..." she alleged, as she questioned as to why the CM or Home Minister did not visit Nagamangala.