BJP Delegation Visits Family of Slain Congress Worker in Ballari, Demands CBI Probe
A delegation from the Bharatiya Janata Party visited the residence of Congress worker Rajasekhar in Ballari on Saturday. Rajasekhar died from gunfire following a dispute over banners between supporters of two local legislators.
Financial Support and Investigation Demands
Led by BJP state president BY Vijayendra, the group handed over a cheque for Rs 10 lakh to the grieving family. They strongly reiterated their demand for a Central Bureau of Investigation probe into the entire incident.
Rajasekhar lost his life during violence that erupted on January 1. The conflict stemmed from a banner dispute involving supporters of BJP MLA G Janardhana Reddy and Congress legislator Nara Bharat Reddy.
Police authorities have already arrested three private gunmen connected to Congress functionaries in relation to the case.
Allegations of Political Interference
Vijayendra made serious allegations about political interference in the investigation. He pointed to what he called serious lapses in the police process.
The BJP leader demanded the immediate arrest of Congress legislator Bharat Reddy and his supporters. He directly accused Congress workers of involvement in the murder.
Vijayendra also criticized the Siddaramaiah government for failing to maintain proper law and order across Karnataka.
"Law and order has totally collapsed in our state," Vijayendra stated forcefully. He went further by alleging that police stations in Karnataka had effectively become "Congress offices."
Protest Convention and Further Accusations
The BJP organized a protest convention in Ballari city where hundreds of party workers gathered. Participants raised loud slogans against the Congress government, accusing it of protecting suspects in the case.
Former minister B Sriramulu and MLA Janardhana Reddy launched sharp attacks against the Congress leadership and Bharat Reddy specifically. They claimed the government deliberately transferred the investigation to the Criminal Investigation Department to "dilute and suppress" the truth.
Both leaders accused the Congress party of distorting facts about the incident. They asserted that a private gunman linked to Bharat Reddy fired shots during the violence, and this information was intentionally suppressed.
They questioned why the main accused individuals had not been arrested despite clear evidence.
Broader Law and Order Concerns
The BJP delegation highlighted what they described as a broader collapse of law and order since the Congress party assumed power in Karnataka. They cited several recent incidents to support their claim:
- An alleged police assault on a woman in Hubballi
- A murder case in Ankola linked to an inter-caste marriage
- Daylight robberies occurring in Bengaluru
- Abusive remarks made by an elected representative against a woman officer
These incidents, according to BJP representatives, demonstrate that "no one is safe" in the current environment. The party continues to pressure the state government for a thorough, impartial investigation into Rajasekhar's killing while raising larger concerns about public safety across Karnataka.
