Defending criminals is disgrace to Hinduism, Siddaramaiah tells BJP as party resorts to protests over arrest of `kar sevaks'

Chief Minister on Wednesday lashed out at the saying its actions were "not only a disgrace to the saffron shawl but also to " as the Opposition party held a state wide seeking release of the the police have arrested for their involvement in the Ayodhya agitation 31 years ago. "The increase in criminal activities in the state is due to the BJP's illegal actions and their tendency to colour crime and criminals with caste and religion.

Even if a person commits heinous crimes, if he wraps a saffron shawl around his head and shouts that he is a Hindu, BJP leaders rush to his defense. This is not only a disgrace to the saffron shawl but also to Hinduism itself. It's a betrayal of religion. Let the law take its course," the CM said in a long statement as the BJP sought to step up its campaign against the , trying to project the party and the CM as being hostile to the followers of "Lord Ram." The BJP was desperately clinging to the arrest of a criminal suspect in Hubballi to level its baseless charge.

The BJP leaders need to understand that assigning caste and religious labels to criminals was extremely dangerous, Siddaramaiah said, adding that the BJP had panicked due to the positive response from the public to his government's programmes. The BJP should not have reached a point where it had to defend a criminal suspect.

"If any BJP leaders have a little wisdom, they should please read out the list of charges against this person from Hubballi and then decide whether to fight for him. Since Hindus are the majority in the population, they are also the majority in prisons. Does that mean BJP should fight for all of them because they belong to the Hindu religion?" the CM said.

"Even when the BJP government was in power in the state, the Lokayukta police had arrested Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, and sent him to jail. Is that Hubballi criminal suspect any greater Hindu or devotee of Rama than Yediyurappa? So, was the government at that time anti Hindu? Not even the leaders of the BJP's parent organization called the government that arrested Hindu Yediyurappa anti Hindu, did they? Why this outcry now?" he added.

"I am still appealing to the BJP leaders in the state. Stop playing petty politics in the name of God and religion, and try to act as a responsible opposition," Siddaramaiah said. "Unlike the BJP's claim to make the country Congress free, we will not make boastful statements to make the state BJP free.

However, it is my goal to permanently relegate the BJP to the position of opposition in the state. Looking at the recent mishaps of the state BJP leaders, it seems they themselves are contributing to the achievement of this goal." The BJP which held agitations in Bengaluru and in district headquarters seeking the release of kar sevaks in 24 hours, submitted a memorandum to the Governor complaining that the was "pursuing a policy of hatred against Hindu Karyakarthas, reopening a 31 year old case on Karsevak Shrikanth Poojary, while the nation is celebrating consecration ceremony of Ram Mandir at Ayodhya." (Catch all the , Events and Updates on .).