R Guruprasad
Is Karnataka turning into Kerala? It seems so if one goes by the recent killings of RSS functionaries in the state. Karnataka, which was considered to be a peaceful state where the followers of all ways of worships co-existed peacefully since long, is fast turning into a communally-hatred place. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), which is working for building the nation, has been targeted often and the latest target seems to be a swayamsevak who was hacked to death in broad day light in state’s capital Bengaluru. Rudresh, 35, a swayamsevak and BJP general secretary of Shivajinagar Assembly segment was returning from a pathsanchalan on October 16 when he was brutally stabbed from behind at around 12:30 pm. The incident took place when Rudresh was speaking to his friend and two persons riding a motorycle stopped near him. Both of them stabbed Rudresh and escaped.
Rudresh has been associated with the RSS for more than 15 years. He is survived by his wife and two minor children. He lived in a joint family with eight of his siblings. Rudresh is said to be one of the most decent individuals and was loved by all. The eye witnesses said that one of the assailants was speaking in Urdu and professional killers are believed to be behind this. Rudresh was known to have taken the initiative to install a Ganesha idol in Shivajinagar area, which is dominated by Muslims.
RSS strongly condemned the murder. RSS Kshetra Sanghachalak Shri V Nagaraj, Prant Karyavah Shri Tippeswamy and other senior functionaries strongly condemned the murder and demanded impartial and speedy inquiry into the issue. They also demanded immediate arrest of the culprits behind the brutal murder. RSS Bengaluru unit staged for a protest on October 17 at Dandumariyamma Circle, near Shivajinagar Bus Stand, Bengaluru.
The local BJP hit the streets condemning the cold-blooded murder of RSS swayamsevak as “brutal”. The impunity with which the killers have perpetrated this heinous crime and the way with which they have escaped are a telling comment on the state of affairs in the law and order front in Bengaluru city in particular and the entire state in general. “What I sense is that the attackers have felt emboldened by the “inaction” of the police and the “stoic silence” of the government because the culprits have not been punished in the previous two incidents. A feeling has gained ground among the potential violence-perpetrators that they can do anything and get away with ease. Rudresh’s murder is a litmus test for the government to demonstrate its seriousness, sincerity and will in nabbing the killers and taking the issue to its logical end. In earlier two instances, the government has failed. I demand Home Minister Dr G Parameshwar to come clean on this issue,” said BJP state unit president BS Yeddyurappa.
Since the arrest, BJP has been protesting across the city to pressurise the government to act. But, Congress-led government seems not to be in a hurry. Even state Home Minister G Parameshwar who had recently made a controversial statement of suspecting RSS hand in Benglauru riots during Cauvery (which was widely criticised in all the quarters) has refused to act despite making usual statements. The RSS local unit observed massive protest at over 155 places in Bengaluru on October 20. There are reports of organising massive protests at Harihara, Davanagere, Keshavashilpa Circle, Chamarajapete, Marattahalli, NR Colony, Thyagarajanagar, Whitefield, JC Nagar, Malleshwaram, Hanumanth Nagara, JP Nagar, Hulimaavu, Karamangala, Hosur Road, BTM Layout, Sahkar Nagar, Yeshwantpura Circle, Vidyapeetha, Yelahanka, Vijaynagara, Uttarahalli, Shampura, Sarjapura, Ramamurthy Nagar, Seshadripuram, etc.
What is highly disturbing is that there seems to be a pattern in the attacks on RSS swayamsevaks in Karnataka and stoic silence of the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government. A swayamsevak, Phaneendra, was attacked with swords at Vidyaranyanapura a few months back; the attackers are at large. About eight days ago, another swayamsevak, Dilip, was attacked at Muthyalnagar under Yeshwanthpur police station area. Two youths were arrested and immediately released on station bail within two hours. Six others are absconding. The motive of these attacks has to be spelt by the police and the government. Earlier, a RSS activist who was opposing the illegal construction of mosque in a residential area in Mysuru was brutally hacked to death in broad day light. The deceased Raju was standing near a tea stall when five men hacked him to death with lethal weapons. Raju who had united the Hindus in various localities of Mysuru by creating awareness on the construction of an illegal mosque.
In another incident, a 38-year old RSS activist was attacked by miscreants when he was on his way to RSS shakha in heart of Bengaluru city on June 11, 2016. Ramesh Vaishnav, who is Chikpet Nagar Sharirik Pramukh was attacked when he was going for Amar Prabhath Shaksha. As a result, Ramesh sustained serious injuries and immediately admitted to a local hospital as he was brutally attacked by few unknown miscreants.
A Hindu activist was killed at Moodbidri for championing the cause of anti-cow slaughter. Prashanth, 29, was selling flowers at Moodbidri
market when six persons came in two bikes and hacked him to death with sharp weapons on October 9, 2015. He was rushed to hospital but couldn”t survive. His family members claim that just before his death, Prashanth revealed important details about his killers to the cops. A RSS activist Kuttappa was killed during the
controversial Tipu Jayanti
programme at Madikeri and police have failed to make any concrete headway till now.
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