BJP indulging in communal politics in coastal Karnataka : MLC Manjunath Bhandary

By Editor

Posted on June 6, 2025

BJP indulging in communal politics in coastal Karnataka : MLC Manjunath Bhandary

Mangaluru : MLC and Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee working president Manjunath Bhandary, accused the BJP of indulging in communal politics in coastal Karnataka to reap political benefits.

He said that the BJP began sowing the seeds of communalism three decades ago, when it was unable to defeat the Congress, which ushered in development in the coastal region.

Until then, Congress was winning elections for the Zilla Panchayat, the Legislative Assembly, and the Lok Sabha. The region was also the hub of economic activities, including five nationalised banks, major industries, etc.

“The situation has drastically changed with the BJP taking over the reins by utilising the communal agenda. Development has taken a backseat in the region, and murders for communal gains have become rampant,” Mr. Bhandary said.

He said communal murders were happening within a 10 km radius of Mangaluru taluk and that there was a marked difference between communal violence and communal murders.

Stating that he was one of the members of the fact-finding team constituted by KPCC to study the reasons for communal tension on the coast and the social fabric that prevailed three decades ago, Mr. Bhandary said the members would meet leaders of frontline organisations in the region on Thursday.

They would also meet personalities who have contributed to the development of the region, leaders of different organisations and religious leaders. The committee would again visit the region between June 9 and 11. Later, a report would be submitted to the government through the KPCC president, he said.

The party had constituted the committee to be led by Rajya Sabha member and All India Congress Committee general secretary Syed Nasir Hussain, and it will comprise AICC secretary Roji John, Shanthinagar MLA N.A. Haris, former Ministers K. Jayaprakash Hegde and Kimmane Rathnakar, and former Legislative Council Chairman V.R. Sudarshan. The party asked the committee to submit the report within a week, he said.