Janardhana Reddy’s act of tearing Valmiki banner triggered violence in Ballari: Shivakumar

Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar claimed that the violent clash between Congress and BJP workers in Ballari on January 1, which resulted in the death of a Congress activist, was triggered by the act of MLA for Gangavati Gali Janardhan Reddy and his supporters tearing down banners related to the unveiling of a Maharshi Valmiki statue.

Addressing the media in Ballari after meeting the family of slain Congress activist Rajashekhar Reddy, the Deputy Chief Minister said that law would take its own course and that no one would be shielded from accountability. He was accompanied by district In-charge Minister B.Z. Zameer Ahmed Khan, Ballari MLA Nara Bharath Reddy, and other Congress leaders.

“I am neither defending nor targeting anyone,” the Deputy Chief Minister said, adding that the police had taken timely and appropriate action to control the situation.

Justifying the installation of banners near Mr. Janardhana Reddy’s residence, Mr. Shivakumar said putting up banners in public places ahead of major public events was a common and accepted practice. He said if there were objections, the matter could have been resolved through civic authorities or the police.

“If there was any objection to the banners featuring Maharshi Valmiki, they could have approached the Corporation Commissioner or the police. Instead, the banners were torn down, and that act provoked the violence,” he said.

Referring to a fact-finding report prepared by the Congress, he said a grand programme had been planned for the unveiling of the Maharshi Valmiki statue, with widespread support from the community.

“Unable to tolerate the scale of public support and the prominence of the programme, the banners bearing Maharshi Valmiki’s image were torn down,” he said.

He dismissed Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy’s claim that the post-mortem of the deceased activist was conducted twice as “completely false.”

On allegations by Mr. Janardhana Reddy that gunmen linked to Ballari MLA Bharath Reddy had fired at him, the Deputy Chief Minister questioned why such claims were not raised immediately after the incident demanding a mahazar then itself.