JD(S) workers attack CM's aide's residence; 24 held

The war of words between the ruling BJP and the JD(S) has turned nasty with JD(S) workers attacking the residence of Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa’s key aide after he made land grab charge against their party chief H D Deve Gowda.

Twenty-four JD(S) workers have been arrested in connection with the attack last night when they stoned the residence of Yeddyurappa’s political secretary B J Puttaswamy, damaging window panes, pots and two cars, within hours after he levelled the charge, a senior police official said.

The arrested JD(S) workers would be charged with threatening Puttaswamy’s life, rioting and damaging property, Deputy Commissioner of Police (central division) G Ramesh said.

Puttaswamy, who accused Gowda and his family of grabbing 82.01 acres in his home district of Hassan, was mobbed as he alighted from his car and after threatening him that he would not spared for “maligning their leader Kumaraswamy” (JDS state unit chief), they barged into the compound of his residence, police said.

Puttaswamy managed to get inside his residence, police said, adding, otherwise, he would have suffered injuries. The JD(S) workers also raised slogans against the Yeddyurappa government and Puttaswamy and in support of Kumaraswamy, whose party and the BJP are on a hostile course over alleged land scams in recent weeks. The attack drew an angry response from the BJP with Puttaswamy and another loyalist of Yeddyurappa, minister V Somanna saying they would not take such incidents lying down.

“Nobody can threaten me. I will not yield. I am not scared of them (JDS),” said the 72-year-old Puttaswamy, who has lodged a police complaint.

Puttaswamy alleged that some 50-60 JDS activists instigated by Kumaraswamy attacked his house and his life was in danger. “Deve Gowda wants only his family to be in power in Karnataka. No others should rule.

Only his sons tell truth. Others are all corrupt and engaged in irregularities,” he said targetting the former prime minister.

Hitting at the JD(S), Somanna said, “We will not sit quiet any longer. Kumaraswamy is levelling baseless allegations day in and day out unable to stomach the development programmes initiated by the Yeddyurappa government.” He said scams during the tenure of Kumaraswamy as chief minister would be exposed and charged the JDS leader with indulging in threatening tactics.

“We are not living in feudal system,” Somanna said. State unit BJP spokesman S Prakash flayed the attack and said, “It is not the birth right of Deve Gowda family to attack opponents. This kind of hooliganism will not be allowed.”