Bengaluru,l:The delivery of parcels containing knives to the official residence of Legislative Council Opposition Leader Chalavadi Narayanaswamy has snowballed into a major political controversy in Karnataka, with BJP accusing Congress government of failing law and order and Congress denying any involvement.
According to police, unidentified persons sent knife parcels to Narayanaswamy’s official residence located at high security Seven Ministers Quarters area in High Grounds, Bengaluru, where residences of judges and ministers are located.Based on complaint filed by Narayanaswamy, High Grounds Police registered FIR against unidentified persons and intensified investigation.
Addressing media, Narayanaswamy claimed up to 20 knives were delivered to him via quick commerce platform Blinkit as Cash-on-Delivery orders. He alleged workers of Congress-backed NSUI placed these orders in retaliation to his speech earlier this week in Kolar where he allegedly said BJP workers would “cut Congress into pieces and throw them into Arabian Sea”.
Narayanaswamy said cash-on-delivery orders were placed mentioning his mobile number, that of his personal assistant Mallappa and his close associates. He said five mobile numbers used to place orders were identified, with one already traced. Orders were booked in name of person identified as Vinay Kumar N, while another person Chandra sent him message saying “Hi Chalavadi”.
He also claimed to have received threat calls from over 20 different numbers. Two persons allegedly accompanying delivery executives, identified by him as NSUI activists, reportedly insisted that parcels be delivered to his residence even as delivery personnel attempted to leave.
Reacting to incident, Narayanaswamy said, “For past week, some youths claiming to be Congress workers have been visiting my residence and creating trouble. I will not be intimidated by such threats. Drawing strength from Constitution and principles of Dr B R Ambedkar, architect of Constitution, I will continue to fight firmly against such acts.”He added sarcastically, “Had they paid for knives, I would have kept them to cut vegetables at home. I am not scared. I am not someone with fake Dalit blood. I carry blood of great Dr B R Ambedkar. Do not indulge in knife-and-blade politics.”
Assembly Opposition Leader R Ashoka visited Narayanaswamy’s residence and expressed solidarity. Launching scathing attack on Congress government, he said, “Such incident taking place within highly secured Seven Ministers Quarters area reflects deterioration of law and order under Congress rule. If government fails to provide security to BJP leaders, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar will be held responsible for any untoward incident in future.”
BJP state president B Y Vijayendra along with Ashoka and Narayanaswamy lodged complaint with Bengaluru Police Commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh seeking action. BJP also sought cancellation of Blinkit licence for failing to check items being delivered. BJP claimed in complaint that NSUI workers were instigated by Karnataka Congress president B K Hariprasad, D K Shivakumar and Home Minister Priyank Kharge. “These were cash-on-delivery orders. They didn’t even pay for knives,” Narayanaswamy quipped.
Condemning incident, BJP SC Morcha workers staged massive protest at Freedom Park in Bengaluru raising slogans against state government.
Meanwhile, responding to controversy, Minister Satish Jarkiholi defended Congress government stating party had no involvement. “There is no Congress hand behind this act. It is possible that political rivals of Chalavadi Narayanaswamy sent parcel to tarnish his image or gain public attention,” he said.,Police said investigation underway.
