Communal violence orchestrated to undermine CM: Union minister HD Kumaraswamy

MANDYA: Union minister for heavy industries and steel HD Kumaraswamy visited the violence-affected Nagamangala town in Mandya district on Friday, following clashes during a Ganesha idol immersion procession. Kumaraswamy inspected damaged shops and showrooms and interacted with families of those arrested.
Kumaraswamy distributed compensation ranging from Rs 25,000 to Rs 2 lakh to victims at the residence of former MLA Suresh Gowda and promised to help release the arrested individuals.
After his visit, Kumaraswamy accused some Congress functionaries of orchestrating the violence to weaken chief minister Siddaramaiah. Drawing parallels with past events, he said, "When Veerendra Patil was CM, Congress functionaries stage-managed communal violence in Ramanagara and Channapatna. Now, it is being done in Nagamangala. Some Congress functionaries claim the CM's chair isn't vacant, while they are eyeing the post."
He further criticised the suspension of a police inspector. "Doesn't it look like it was planned and staged by Congress? Where did stones, petrol bombs, and machetes come from? What were the govt and police doing? Just to cover up their mistakes, they suspended the inspector for namesake," he alleged.
Kumaraswamy urged the state govt to compensate those who suffered losses, demanding that at least 70% of damages be cleared. He accused the Congress govt of appeasing a particular community in connection with the clash, adding, "The person who installed the Ganesha idol has been made the primary accused, and innocent people have been arrested indiscriminately."
"Our state is a garden of all religions. Arresting innocent people is wrong," he said, recalling past violence in Bengaluru's DJ Halli and KG Halli areas. "Do we need a similar situation in Nagamangala?" he asked.
Reacting to home minister G Parameshwara's description of the incident as "accidental and minor," Kumaraswamy criticized the lack of police preparedness, saying, "The FIR mentions people had gathered to commit the murder of police personnel. Where did the rioters get the courage to roam around with swords? If additional police had been deployed, the situation could have been contained."
He also slammed the Congress govt, stating, "One party is appeasing one community for political benefit. I never did politics for any community; I always stood by the truth."