Intolerance, violence on the rise in Karnataka: Congres

Condemning the attack on students at a home-stay in Mangalore allegedly by members of the Hindu Jagran Vedike, the Congress on Monday said intolerance and violence has been on the rise in Karnataka ever since the Bharatiya Janata Party came to power in 2008.

"The Indian National Congress very strongly condemns the assault on 13 students in Mangalore," Congress spokesman Manish Tewari told reporters.

He said intolerance and violence has been on the rise in Karnataka ever since the BJP had assumed power in the state in 2008.

"It is an incontrovertible fact that all these incidents have taken place because of the perpetuation of the feeling that there is a conducive environment for obscurantism to flourish," Tewari said.

Suspected Hindu Jagran Vedike activists had attacked young boys and girls at a private home-stay on Saturday, alleging that it was a rave party where illegal activities were going on.

Tewari said churches, pubs and beach resorts were attacked in Karnataka over the past four years, since the BJP has been in power in the state.

"All this reflects the very medieval and reactionist mindset of those who are in power today," the Congress leader said and added that he hoped the people of Karnataka would give the BJP a befitting reply in the time to come.