BJP tried to saffronise K'taka police, says Shivakumar

Ramanagara, NT Bureau: Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Friday alleged that the BJP had tried to “saffronize” the police force in Karnataka when it was in power. Saffronisation refers to influencing someone or something with Hindutva right wing ideology.

Shivakumar made the remarks in response to Leader of the Opposition (LOP) R Ashoka for saying that the police stations in Karnataka need protection.

Ashoka was speaking in context of the attack on a police station in Channagiri town in Davangere district last week.

A man from a minority community had allegedly died in police custody and an angry mob led by the deceased’s family had attacked the station. As many as 25 persons were arrested in the case.

Speaking to reporters in Kanakapura, Shivakumar said: “Has Ashoka forgotten that the BJP government was the one which made the police wear saffron clothes during festivals?”

Nagendra resignation demand ignored

The Deputy CM said he didn’t assign much importance to the BJP’s deadline of June 6 for Sports Minister BL Nagendra’s resignation.

The Opposition holds that Nagendra was implicated in the suicide of an officer working in the Maharishi Valmiki Scheduled Tribe (ST) Development Corporation. The officer had alleged corruption to the tune of Rs 88 crore in his suicide note.

“Why are they waiting till then? Let them protest now. They are not raising issues that need to be raised but they are issuing deadlines for things like these,” Shivakumar said.

The Karnataka Congress chief was in Kanakapura taluk to campaign for the Congress candidate from the Bangalore Graduates Council seat, which will take place on June 3.

“I have come to Kanakapura to campaign for our candidate Ramoji Gowda who is contesting the Bengaluru Graduates’ constituency. The BJP and JD(S) have joined hands for this election but we are confident that our candidate will emerge victorious,” Shivakumar said.

Asked about the MLC candidates list for the June 13 election, he said a shortlist of candidates has been submitted and the Congress High Command would take a decision.