By IANS,
New Delhi : The Congress Wednesday blamed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for communal violence against Christians in Karnataka saying the opposition party was playing vote bank politics ahead of assembly and Lok Sabha elections.
“In view of ensuing assembly elections in six states and Lok Sabha elections next year, the attacks in Karnataka were planned by the BJP high command to create communal polarisation for vote banks,” Congress spokesperson Jayanthi Natrajan told reporters here.
Natrajan alleged that Karnataka police were aggressively attacking the Christians in the state instead of protecting them, and the state government was playing a mute spectator to the violence spearheaded by BJP’s sister allies – the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal
“The BJP has not uttered a single word of condemnation against the violent attacks on Christians in Karnataka,” Natrajan said.
Responding to a question on Administrative Reforms Commission recommending a stringent anti-terror law in the country Natrajan said: “The Congress endorses there is need for a strong law against terror having safeguards to prevent its misuse against minority community.”
Shying away from taking a stand on a need for a separate minister of internal security, Natrajan said: “Such decision is the prime minister’s prerogative and the party can not comment on it.”
Almost 100 people were arrested Monday after Christians clashed with right wing Hindu groups and the police, reacting to earlier attacks Sunday. A team from the National Commission for minorities Wednesday visited the affected areas in Karnataka.