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BJP govt’s aid of ₹25L for slain Bajrang Dal man’s kin fans row
Kharge also pointed out that the government is yet to pay victims of coronavirus and natural disasters, while compensation has been paid to party workers.
Bengaluru: Former Karnataka minister and Congress leader Priyank Kharge on Wednesday alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is misusing government funds by compensating families of its party’s slain workers, and ignoring soldiers who were killed and victims of Covid-19.
The statement comes after BJP leader and former chief minister BS Yediyurappa last week handed over a cheque of ₹25 lakh on behalf of the state government to the family of 26-year-old Bajrang Dal activist Harsha Jingade who was fatally stabbed on February 20 in Shivamogga.
In a series of tweets on Wednesday, Kharge asked the state government if such compensation has so far been handed over to the family of 37-year-old Althaf Ahmed, a soldier who was posted in Kashmir and killed in an avalanche last month. “Has the BJP government changed the definition of patriotism? By granting money to the Godse worshipper, does the BJP approve the killing of Gandhi? CM must answer,” Kharge wrote.
“What is the agenda behind the government compensating the family of Harsha in Shivamogga with ₹25 lakh? Under what rule are they giving away people’s tax money? Has this government been giving similar compensation to those who were killed due to personal enmity in the state?” Kharge further questioned.
The Congress leader added that Harsha had several cases registered against him and was also arrested in 2020.
“It is learned that the deceased Harsha had several serious cases registered against him. In 2020, this same government sent him to jail, and even Shivamogga’s in-charge minister Narayana Gowda has said that this was a murder that occurred due to personal enmity. The investigation report by the police has not yet come out. When this is the case, why and how was the compensation money given?” he questioned.
Kharge also pointed out that the government is yet to pay victims of coronavirus and natural disasters, while compensation has been paid to party workers.
“It is shocking to see this government which has been ignoring the victims of the flood and families of those who died during the Covid pandemic, give ₹25 lakh in compensation to their party’s worker. If they possess such a generous heart, why haven’t they given the same to the murdered Dalit youth’s family in Dharmasthala, who was murdered by a BJP leader? Why haven’t they given it to the family of Kodagu’s martyred soldier? If they want to give funds from the BJP party, not ₹25 lakh, let them even give ₹25 crore, but who gave them the authority to misuse the government’s fund?” he tweeted.
Deputy leader of opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly, UT Khader, said the state government should have a uniform policy on payment of compensation.
Talking to reporters, Khader said compensation similar to Harsha should be given to family members of two persons who were killed in firing during anti-CAA protests in Mangaluru in December 2019. Khader said compensation was denied to family members of Kabeer from Krishnapura near Surathkal, who died the following the firing by an anti-naxal force constable in April 2014, as he had been booked for alleged illegal cattle transportation.
“There needs to be a uniform policy in payment of compensation. If Kabeer’s family members cannot get compensation as he has a criminal case, Harsha’s family members should not be given compensation,” Khader said.
BS Yediyurappa, president Nalin Kumar Kateel and revenue minister R Ashok didn’t take HT’s calls seeking a response to the allegations.
