Tensions escalated in Karnataka as the arrest of Shrikant Poojari, allegedly involved in riots following the Babri Masjid demolition in 1992, sparked protests and political upheaval. Poojari, a Kar Sevak, was granted conditional bail after being detained for his purported role in the decades-old case.
R. Ashoka, the opposition leader in Karnataka, was taken into preventive custody amidst mounting protests over Poojari’s arrest. The move stirred controversy, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) fiercely criticizing the ruling Congress, accusing them of engaging in what they deemed as “politics of vendetta.”
The BJP strongly condemned Poojari’s arrest after 31 years, labeling it an act of an “anti-Hindu government.” Karnataka BJP president, BY Vijayendra, expressed vehement opposition to the government’s actions, citing the reopening of the decades-old case and the subsequent arrest of a Hindu activist.
In response to the unrest and accusations of playing divisive politics, the Karnataka Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah, refuted claims of hate-driven motives behind Poojari’s arrest. He emphasized the government’s commitment to addressing pending cases, assuring that no innocents would face arrest and that legal proceedings would align with court directives.
The BJP intensified its statewide protests against the Congress, decrying the arrests of individuals affiliated with Hindutva organizations ahead of the Ram temple’s inauguration in Ayodhya.
The political upheaval further escalated when senior Congress leader Hariprasad made controversial remarks, suggesting a possibility of a Godhra-like incident in Karnataka preceding the Ayodhya temple’s consecration on January 22.
The statement drew swift condemnation from the BJP, adding fuel to the already contentious political climate in Karnataka surrounding the historical and religious developments tied to the Ram temple inauguration in Ayodhya.
The arrest and subsequent bail, coupled with the political exchanges and protests, underscore the intense ideological divide and heightened sensitivities surrounding historical events, religious sentiments, and the impending consecration ceremony in Ayodhya.
Sources By Agencies