Mangaluru : Mangaluru North MLA Mohiuddin Bava is ‘misleading’ the people by claiming that the accused in the case are connected to the BJP, but party none of the accused in Deepak Rao murder said Former minister Krishna J Palemar  on Friday.

Palemar, who was the former MLA of Mangaluru City North constituency, was briefing media persons on an allegation made by incumbent MLA B A Mohiuddin Bava. The MLA had alleged a possible link of some elements in BJP conniving with one of the accused to incite communal tension in his constituency for political mileage.

According to Bava, one of the accused in the murder Pinky Nawaz is a brother of Ladin Ismail, who is a BJP worker and has close ties to a popular businessman associated with the BJP. Similarly, Bava has said that Ladin’s co-brother Mohammed Ali is also a BJP worker in Kaup.

Countering this allegation, Palemar said, “None of the accused in Deepak Rao murder case is BJP worker. One cannot call an accused a member of BJP just because of his relative’s party affiliation. For example, Mohiuddin Bava’s brother Farooq Bava is a member of JD(S). The investigation officer in Deepak Rao murder case should also inquire into the allegations made by Bava. The MLA has been making irresponsible statements connecting accused with BJP. Let the MLA prove his allegations.”

Palemar also alleged that law and order in Mangaluru City North is at stake after Bava became MLA.

BJP district general secretary Umanath Kotian said the party will hold protest in front of MLA Mohiuddin Bava’s house if he is not ready to prove the allegations he made against BJP.