BJP supporting attacks: Gowda

SURAT, Jan 6: The forces that have unleashed terror in villages of the Dangs have derived courage, inspiration, strength and even support...

SURAT, Jan 6: The forces that have unleashed terror in villages of the 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 H D Deve Gowda after visiting the trouble-torn district of South Gujarat.

Talking to reporters here on Wednesday, he said 8220;the unprecedented level of atrocities8221; had erupted during Keshubhai Patel8217;s second stint in office because 8220;for the first time, the culprits were assured of protection not only in the State, but also at the national level8221;.

On the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and the Bajrang Dal8217;s dissociating themselves from the attacks and from the Hindu Jagran Manch HJM, 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 those organisations involved8221;.

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

Gowda was accompanied by senior Janata Dal national leader Ram Vilas Paswan on his trip to the Dangs. Paswan stated that while there was a deep-rooted conspiracy and that culprits were both 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 stated.

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 the minorities.8221; He added that he did not understand why educational institutions were ransacked and said that the missionaries had been doing an excellent job in the tribal district as far as education and medical aid were concerned.

Gowda expressed the fear that if such attacks were not checked in time, they could spread to other places outside the state as well.

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In a veiled reference to the use of Article 356 in the state, Gowda said that what more evidence of gross mishandling by the state government was required when both the prime minister and the home minister of the country have expressed concern over the situation in the state.