The ruling Congress in Karnataka today came under attack from the opposition over a comment made by a Congress member who pointed at a BJP MLA in the Legislative Assembly during a discussion about increase in murder cases.
It happened during the zero hour when deputy leader of opposition in the Assembly R Ashoka raised the issue of killing of S Kadiresh, husband of a BJP corporator, and was targeting the government over law and order.
Referring to such recent killings,when Ashoka said "Yesterday Santosh, today Kadiresh and whois tomorrow?," some from the ruling side shouted the name ofBJP MLA C T Ravi.
Taking strong exception to the comment, Ravi, without taking the name of the member who made the comment, said "If you have put a sketch for me, it's fine, I don't fearfor such things, I don't fear dying."
Opposition Leader Jagadish Shettar said this shows the Congress party mindset.
He said "they are prepared for everything. With such people how can there be law and order? It has completelycollapsed....government should be ashamed."
While Revenue Minister Kagodu Thimmappa took exceptionto the government being blamed, Agriculture Minister KrishnaByre Gowda expressed regret for the comment made by hisparty colleague.
He tried to calm down the situation by stating that the comment was made on a "lighter note" taking advantage of "leniency" and "bonding" that both members share.
BJP members Arvind Limbavali, Vishweshwar Hegde Kageriand Jeevaraj demanded that the member who made the comment benamed and apologise.
Jeevaraj said recently Ravi even got a threat letter following which he has approached police, andquestioned whether the comment made in the House today had anything to do with the threat.
After repeated requests from Gowda to drop the issue and intervention from the Chair, BJP members allowed the proceedings to continue.
Continuing his speech regarding increase in number of murders in the state, especially Bengaluru, Ashoka said the city has turned into a "crime city."
Ashoka alleged that law and order has collapsed in the state, pointing out that few MLAs have received threats and questioned what should be the common man's situation.
"This mentality that anyone can be killed easily without fearing for law or police or the government has grown...what message will you send to the world about our stateand the city? After populist schemes like Anna Bhagya, KsheeraBhagya, now Murder Bhagya has come," he said.
Intervening, Shettar said honest and upright police officers should be given free hand to control rowdy elements.
He demanded that killers of Kadiresh be brought tojustice and punished soon.
Kadiresh (47) was murdered by four armed men last evening. His killing comes days after 28-year-old Santosh, a BJP worker was stabbed to death on January 31 in the city.
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