Karnataka minister Rai terms Sangh, a 'Chaddi Parivar'

MANGALURU: Lambasting "Gau Rakshaks", who are allegedly behind the murder of Praveen Poojary, 29, in Udupi, minister for forest, environment and ecology B Ramanath Rai called the right wing activists as "Chaddi Parivar."
At a press conference here on Tuesday, the minister expressed his strong sentiments over the violent incidents taking place in the name of 'cow protection.' "I am deeply hurt by violence taking place in the name of cow protection.Gau Rakshaks have killed a person in the name of cow, but actually their intention is inflaming communal violence and gaining political mileage. Hence, it is not Sangh Parivar, but Chaddi Parivar," Rai said and charged that more than 80% of the gau rakshaks have criminal background.
Reacting to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statement that 70-80% of those who indulge in anti-social activities try to cover up their sins by acting as gau rakshaks, Rai said majority of them are are from the Bajrang Dal. "They killed a youth Harish Poojary in Bantwal in 2015 and now they repeated it in Udupi with political motive. We have already met Inspector General of Police (Western Range) J Arun Chakravarthy in connection with the Praveen Poojary murder and have demanded for a proper investigation into the case. Initially, it was attack on minorities, then dalits and now backward classes are being targeted in the region. Recurrence of such instances will lessen when enlightened people oppose united," Rai said.
Critical of BJP Dakshina Kannada unit for holding Tiranga Yatra programme inside Mangalore University campus on Sunday, Rai said, "We will not object if our HRD minister addressed the gathering at University campus during the programme. If it was an apolitical event, what is the need for BJP president Amit Shah to announce B S Yeddyurappa as the future chief minister at the venue? We have already informed minister for higher education Basavaraj Rayareddi about it. The issue will also be raised in the Cabinet," Rai said adding that the BJP was fooling people in the name Rani Abbakka.