Cong member blames police at DGR's press conference
Mangaluru: The Muslim community's anger towards the Congress govt became evident following a Congress leader's emotional outburst regarding Abdul Rahiman's brutal killing during district minister Dinesh Gundu Rao's press conference here on Saturday.
Congress leader Usman Kallapu, a former chairman of the standing committee in Ullal City Municipal Council, intervened when the minister was briefing media persons about the law and order situation in the district. Usman blamed that the hate speeches made by Hindutva leaders were the immediate reason for the murder of Abdul Rahiman.
However, this made Rao angry, and he took Usman to task for interfering at a press briefing.
Rao asked Usman not to speak during the press briefing, and when the latter continued to blame the police failure, the minister asked party leaders to send him out of the conference hall of the Circuit House.
Later, Usman Kallapu told reporters that the police should arrest those who made provocative speeches during the 'Bajpe Chalo' rally, which was organised to demand justice for Suhas Shetty. "Immediate arrests should be made for individuals inciting violence against others.
I advocate for the protection of innocent lives and seek only justice. Being a Congress functionary myself, I urge the Congress govt to take action against those who provoke perpetrators of violence," he said.
In fact, none of the Congress leaders from the Muslim community, who announced their resignations, attended the grievance meeting with the district minister. Shahul Hameed KK, president of the minority wing of the Dakshina Kannada District Congress, and several other Congress office bearers had announced their resignation over law and order failure in Dakshina Kannada at a meeting of Muslim functionaries held in the city on Thursday.
Former opposition leader of the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) council, Abdul Ravoof, who also announced his resignation, said that there is no need for a meeting with the district minister. "Our demand is very clear that stringent action should be taken against all individuals who deliver provocative speeches and ensure peace," he said.
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