HD Kumaraswamy Assesses Situation in Mandya After Communal Violence

Union Minister and former Karnataka CM HD Kumaraswamy visited Mandya's Nagamangala post-violence at a Ganapati procession. He commended local authorities for their swift action and emphasized a vision of communal harmony. Kumaraswamy criticized the Congress government for inefficiency, leading to recurring tensions.

Union Minister and former Chief Minister of Karnataka, HD Kumaraswamy, visited Nagamangala in Mandya district on Friday to assess the situation following recent violence that erupted after stone pelting at a Ganapati procession on September 11.

Kumaraswamy confirmed that the situation was under control, despite his initial shock at the disturbance. 'Now the situation is under control. But I had not expected that this kind of disturbance would happen... It is really a painful incident... I am not supporting anyone who is disturbing society; I want a peaceful atmosphere,' he said. He emphasized the importance of communal harmony, stating, 'Communities should live as brothers and sisters--that is my vision... I wanted to see the ground reality by visiting the place. After collecting all the information, I will get back to you.'

He praised the swift action taken by local authorities, 'SP and District Administration have done good work, I don't want to unnecessarily blame anyone. Because of their intervention and immediate action, things were controlled,' Kumaraswamy noted.

Kumaraswamy also criticized the Congress government for its inefficiency in handling such tensions. 'Kannadigs do not support such communal clashes. They are very peaceful. Because of the government's inefficiency in giving some protection to one section of society, such things are happening again and again. Appeasement politics is not good. I also ran the state for two terms. I gave protection and support to all communities. It's the government's responsibility to look after everybody. That is important,' he said.

Manda District Collector Kumar revealed that 54 people had been arrested and emphasized the measures taken to restore calm, 'The situation is under control. We have deployed sufficient force and taken all precautionary measures. We have declared a holiday for schools and colleges today. 54 people have been arrested in this incident,' he reported. According to Mandya Police, the incident resulted in the burning of seven bikes and six small shops, with minor damages to 15 bikes and a car.

(With inputs from agencies.)