BJP Govt comes under attack for Mangalore incident

The BJP Govt in Karnataka came under severe criticism from various quarters over the Mangalore pub incident, even as the saffron party claimed its members were not involved in the incident.

The BJP government in Karnataka on Monday came under severe criticism from various quarters over the Mangalore pub incident, even as the saffron party claimed its members were not involved in the incident and promised appropriate action against the culprits.

HT Image

While the Congress and JD(S) blamed the Karnataka government for the incident, the BJP said adequate action was being taken in the case and 17 people were already arrested.

"The culprits are neither from the BJP nor from the Sangh Parivar. They are from an autonomous organisation active in the area. We condemn this hooliganism," BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad told PTI.

Congress on the other hand charged the BJP-led government in Karnataka with criminal negligence.

"This is a criminal negligence on the part of the state government...They are not discharging their constitutional responsibility," party spokesman Manish Tewari said.

"The people in the pub were not doing anything which is not allowed under the provisions of law. The pub operates under a license..," he said.

Asked whether the activists, responsible for the attack on women, had support from the Yeddyyurappa-led government, Tewari said the state government is responsible.

"Their entire agenda is intolerance. We condemn it.." the spokesman said.