Bhatkal: The Congress on Tuesday accused the BJP of indulging in “provocative politics” by attempting to exploit religious and emotional issues surrounding Murin Katte and the earlier Guruvinkatte (Nagaban) controversy in Bhatkal for political gains. The party also warned BJP leaders against making statements that could disturb communal harmony.
Addressing a press conference at the Congress office in Bhatkal, Block Congress president Venkatesh Naik said Murin Katte was a revered site for Hindus and alleged that BJP leaders were deliberately trying to inflame public sentiment for electoral benefit.
“If the Congress government or district in-charge minister Mankal Vaidya had opposed the reconstruction of Murin Katte, the work would not have been carried out in the presence of the Tahsildar,” he said.
Naik pointed out that Murin Katte was removed during National Highway expansion works when the BJP was in power both at the Centre and in Karnataka. He alleged that former MLA Sunil Naik had remained silent at the time and was now attempting to target the Congress and the minister for political reasons.
He further alleged that the alternative structure built by the government was later vandalised by miscreants and said the minister had already directed officials to initiate strict action against those responsible.
Accusing the BJP of similarly politicising the Nagaban issue, Naik said the Congress government itself had sanctioned funds for the development of the site. He questioned why leaders who had earlier demanded four guntas of land for the project had undertaken development works on only half a gunta during their tenure in office.
The Congress leader also strongly criticised a recent statement attributed to BJP leader Govind Naik suggesting that a situation similar to the 1993 communal unrest could recur in Bhatkal.
“Making references to incidents like the 1993 riots is not responsible politics. Such statements are provocative and dangerous. In communal conflicts, it is ordinary and poor families that suffer the most, not political leaders,” he said.
Naik further alleged that BJP workers had raised slogans against minister Mankal Vaidya even during the recent water tragedy in which 11 people lost their lives, calling the act insensitive and inhuman.
“At a time of grief, the minister cancelled his scheduled engagements, visited the hospital and consoled the bereaved families. Even such a tragedy was politicised,” he alleged.
Challenging former MLA Sunil Naik to an open debate on temple development, education and public welfare initiatives, Venkatesh Naik alleged that the BJP had a long history of attempting to polarise voters by invoking religious sentiments.
Referring to the Paresh Mesta case, he alleged that the BJP had earlier sought political mileage through misinformation and questioned what meaningful support had ultimately been extended to the family.
He also referred to recent incidents of student suicides allegedly linked to the NEET examination system and questioned the accountability of the Central government over such developments.
District Congress vice-president Rama Moger, Block Congress general secretary Suresh Naik, Narayan Naik, T.D. Naik, Ramesh Naik, Guarantee Schemes Committee president Raju Naik, Sudha Naik, Nayana Naik, Jayashree Moger, Manjunath Naik, Bhaskar Moger and several others were present at the press conference.