MP Shobha Karandlaje submitted a list of right wing leaders who were allegedly killed by 'Jihadi' extremist to the Centre However, her list includes a few whose death has had no connection with communal clash. One of the victim claimed as dead is alive! After her blunder was pointed out, she said she will send yet another verified list to Home Minister
BJP MP Shobha Karandlaje who has been desperate to draw the Central government's attention to increased number of alleged killings of right wing activists in communal clash, in Karnataka, especially the coastal regions has found herself in a major controversy.
After RSS leader Sharat Madiwala was hacked to death during Bantwal clash a few weeks ago, Shobha submitted a list of victims of right wing groups to Home Minister Rajnath Singh squarely blaming Karnataka Forum for Dignity (KFD) and Popular Front of India (PFI) for their deaths. She had also sought a ban on these organisations.
However, in a major goof up by the BJP MP, her list finds a mention of victims of road accidents, property dispute and worse, one of the 'victim' is alive!
According to Suvarna News, Ashok Poojari, whom the BJP MP listed on top as murdered is hale and hearty. Ashok was reportedly attacked by miscreants near Moodbidri in 2015. Grievously injured, Poojary was rushed to the hospital. However, he has recovered since then.
Another victim who was also wrongly mentioned in the list, include Karthik Raj. Kartik was found murdered at Konaje in Mangaluru last October. His murder triggered a forced bandh in Mangaluru by BJP leaders. It is reported that BJP leaders including BJP Yeddyurappa, Shobha Karandlaje, Pratap Simha and Nalin Kumar Kateel blamed the 'Jihadi elements' for Kartik's murder.
However, the police investigation revealed that it was Kartik's sister who allegedly gave supari to kill him. The police had arrested Kartik's sister, her boyfriend and his younger brother for his death.
Another victim, Ravi Magali, who was a local BJP leader was killed in Mysuru in November 2016. The BJP leaders too painted his death as victim of communal forces and made it a big issue. However, it turned out that Ravi died due to drunken driving and not as projected by the BJP leaders. The list does not end here. Another victim Vaman Poojary reportedly committed suicide in Moodbidri in 2015. Reports suggested that he was not attacked by anyone.
Shobha had spared no words in condemning the state government for the death of Hindu leaders. She had stated that "The Congress government in the state has failed to protect the Hindus and We will not sit quiet."
When Suvarna News questioned Shobha Karandlaje about the blunder, she said "It was an oversight. I will send another list to the Centre." However, her apparent move to paint certain deaths as communal and political and submit the letter without verifying the facts - of victims - has come under severe criticism.
