Opposition sees red over Kempaiah's role in DK violence probe

The BJP and the Congress, which are involved in a mudslinging match over the communal flare-up in Dakshina Kannada, are showing no signs of letting up, even though peace has been restored in the region. 

While the war of words continue, on Tuesday, the JD(S) too joined in on the issue by criticising the national parties for “fomenting communal hatred for electoral gain”. 

Amidst attacks and counter attacks, the JD(S) and the BJP however found common ground in Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s advisor M Kempaiah, who has now been entrusted with the responsibility of monitoring the ongoing investigations in Dakshina Kannada. 

Launching a scathing attack against Siddaramaiah, the opposition parties said that the chief minister should be ashamed of himself for taking such “brazen decisions”. Siddaramaiah has been courting controversy ever since he appointed his confidante Kempaiah, a retired police officer, as the advisor to the Home minister in the year 2014. 

At that point, K J George was holding the Home portfolio. After George’s exit, G Parameshwara had held the portfolio until recently. However, he too resigned after the party’s high command continued him as the KPCC president, and asked him to handle the party affairs.

In the absence of a Home minister, the portfolio now rests with Siddaramaiah. On Monday, Siddaramaiah held a review meeting of police top brass in Bengaluru, with Kempaiah by his side. Following the meeting, where he took the officers to task over the rising incidents of violence in the region, Siddaramaiah announced that Kempaiah would personally visit the district and monitor the investigations.

 

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah during the review meeting of police top brass in Bengaluru on Monday. His advisor Kempaiah is seen to his right.

 

As expected, the opposition parties are having a field day over the development. The BJP said that Siddaramaiah might as well step down and in turn appoint Kempaiah as the chief minister or the home minister. The JD(S) said that it was unfortunate that a retired police officer is calling the shots in the government.

Addressing the media in Bengaluru, BJP MP Shobha Karandlaje said that Siddaramaiah was humiliating experienced police officers by continuing Kempaiah at the helm. Karandlaje said that the review meeting was nothing but an eyewash. The meeting was held to gather intelligence over BJP leaders and Hindu organisations, she accused.

“Why are you misusing the police department and humiliating them by keeping Kempaiah at the helm. Until Kempaiah is in the chief minister’s office, there will be no peace in the State. Police will not be able to work fearlessly or efficiently. It’s apparent that Siddaramaiah does not trust the police, which is why he has asked Kempaiah to monitor the situation. There is no need for the Home department, if Kempaiah is all who Siddaramaiah wants to listen to. Siddaramaiah has completely failed in his duties - he might as well make Kempaiah the chief minister,” she added.

BJP State president B S Yeddyurappa too said that Siddaramaiah had humiliated the police during the review meeting. Speaking to reporters in Shivamogga, Yeddyurappa demanded that the government withdraw cases against Karandlaje and BJP leader Nalin Kumar Kateel, who were arrested when they were staging a protest following RSS worker Sharath Madiwala’s death. “Instead of arresting the perpetrators, the government keeps talking about arresting Hindu leaders like Kalladka Prabhakar Bhatt and Pramod Muthalik. It’s a shame that Kempaiah has been asked to monitor the situation in Dakshina Kannada. If Siddaramaiah trusts Kempaiah so much, then why doesn’t he make him the home minister?” he said.  

JD(S) state president H D Kumaraswamy wondered why Kempaiah had failed to appraise the chief minister about the prevailing tension in the region over the last two months. “Shame on you (Siddaramaiah). You have appointed somebody who entered the police force by submitting a false certificate. It’s unfortunate that somebody who took voluntary retirement, is now dictating terms to the police. Siddaramaiah should be instilling confidence in the police, and not isolating them,” he added.

While Karandlaje reiterated her demand that the National Investigating Agency (NIA) probe the murders, Siddaramaiah, speaking to reporters in Kalaburgi said that there was no need for such a probe as the Home department was well equipped to handle the cases.

He also dismissed Karandlaje’s claims that perpetrators from Kerala were entering the State and attacking Hindu youths. 
On Tuesday too, the BJP demanded that Dakshina Kannada ministers Ramanath Rai and U T Khader be dropped from the cabinet. They also sought Siddaramaiah’s resignation.

Kumaraswamy said that the JD(S) would hold a peace meet/rally in Mangaluru in a few days to instill confidence among the people of the district. He has invited leaders from both the Congress and the BJP to participate in the meet. 

The JD(S) would also invite religious representatives from all faiths to take part in the peace meet. He said that the party would not violate the prohibitory orders, and that the meet would be held after taking the required permissions.