Attackers had State protection: Gowda

SURAT, JAN 7: The forces that have unleashed terror in villages of Dangs have derived courage, inspiration, strength and even support f...

SURAT, JAN 7: 8220;The forces that have unleashed terror in villages of Dangs have derived courage, inspiration, strength and even support from the Bharatiya Janata Party BJP which is in power at the Centre. And there can be no two opinions on this,8221; said former prime minister Deve Gowda, after visiting the district.

He told reporters in Surat on Wednesday though this is the second time Keshubhai Patel is Gujarat Chief Minister, the 8220;unprecedented level of atrocities8221; is because the culprits have, for the first time, 8220;been assured they were being protected not only at the State level, but at the national level as well.8221;

On the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal dissociating themselves from the attacks and the Hindu Jagran Manch HJM that were allegedly directly involved in the attacks, Gowda said, 8220;The police have registered cases. It is the duty of the administration to check their antecedents and if necessary, ban the organisations involved.8221;

Gowda added that in practically all the attacks,persons from outside the district were involved. Asked who was to blame, he said, 8220;Isn8217;t Advaniji going to get IB reports on who the members of the HJM are?8221;

Gowda was accompanied by senior Janata Dal leader Ram Vilas Paswan on his trip to Dangs. Paswan said while there was a deep-rooted conspiracy and culprits were shielded and supported by the government, it was also a ploy to put the more basic issues of misgovernance and prices on the backburner. 8220;But in no way will we allow these things to continue,8221; he said.

Challenging the Central Government on the issue, Gowda said, 8220;If the government means business, it not only needs to take strict action against such unprovoked hooliganism, it should also take steps to restore the confidence of minorities.8221;

He added he did not understand why educational institutions were ransacked and said the missionaries were doing an excellent job in the tribal district as far as education and medical aid were concerned.

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Gowda expressed the fear that if such attackswere not checked in time, they could spread to other places outside the State.

In a veiled reference to the use of Article 356 in the State, Gowda asked what more evidence of gross mishandling by the State Government was required when both the Prime Minister and Home Minister of the country have expressed concern over the situation in the State.