Belagavi, Dec 12 (FN Agency) The Karnataka BJP on Thursday accused the Congress state government of secretly relocating protesters injured during a lathi charge to prevent opposition leaders from meeting them. Speaking to reporters here, Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka said BJP leaders had planned to visit the injured protesters in hospital. However, the victims were moved to an undisclosed location. “This government is acting like Hitler by not allowing us to meet the injured. We don’t even know where they have been taken,” he said. The lathi charge occurred during a protest by the Panchamasali Lingayat community demanding reservation on December 10.
Ashoka criticised the government for using excessive force on peaceful protesters, adding that some were seriously injured and in the ICU. “The Congress claims to follow Basavanna’s principles but has attacked his followers. No Chief Minister has ever ordered such a brutal action against Lingayats. CM Siddaramaiah must apologise and suspend the officers responsible,” Ashoka demanded. Ashoka also criticised the government for reducing the length of the Assembly session, saying it failed to address key issues like the Lingayat reservation, Waqf board controversy and maternal deaths. The BJP accused the Congress of delaying the reservation reforms introduced by the previous government, claiming it was playing vote-bank politics.