BJP seeks apology from Priyank Kharge for projecting coastal belt in poor light with communal tag

BJP demands Priyank Kharge's apology for negatively portraying the coastal belt and making communal allegations against the party.

Objecting to Priyank Kharge, Minister for Information Technology (IT), Biotechnology (BT), and Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, projecting the coastal belt in a poor light by stating that IT and BT companies are hesitant to invest in coastal cities owing to frequent communal tensions, the BJP sought an apology from the Minister.

The party also took strong exception to Mr. Kharge likening the RSS and the BJP to a devil and its shadow.

Addressing presspersons on Monday, Y. Bharat Shetty, Mangaluru City North MLA, said that the Minister made an irresponsible statement and should apologise. “Mr. Kharge should make it clear who is communal in the coastal belt,” the MLA said.

Dr. Shetty said that as IT Minister, Mr. Kharge could not get the tender document floated to set up an IT park, as announced by the State government, on 3.5 acres of government land in Mangaluru.

Mr. Kharge has again attacked the RSS by accusing it of indulging in “money laundering”, to appease Congress leader Rahul Gandhi ahead of the Cabinet reshuffle in the State, the MLA said, adding that Mangaluru is the safest city and private investors are investing in the coastal belt.

Satish Kumpala, president of BJP’s Dakshina Kannada unit, said that as IT Minister, Mr. Kharge should make it clear how many jobs the government has created in the coastal belt.