By Shankar Raj*
Bengaluru: Following a backlash from the youth wing of the Bharatiya Janata Party in Karnataka over the killing of Praveen Nettaru, a Yuva Morcha member in Dakshina Kannada, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said today that he plans to implement the “Yogi Adityanath model” if needed to tackle anti-national and communal elements in the state.
Addressing a press conference on the completion of his government’s first year in office, Bommai “there are different methods to deal with the situation in Karnataka and all of them are being used. If the situation demands, Yogi model government will come in Karnataka too,” Bommai said.
Though the CM did not elaborate on the Yogi Model, he was probably hinting at the use of bulldozers and target communities behind the killings in the state.
According to some Yuva Morcha leaders, the ‘Yogi model’ refers to strong measures reportedly taken by Yogi Adityanath to control anti-national activities in the northern state, which include the use of bulldozers against such elements and the mafia.
Two people have been arrested concerning the murder of Nettaru in Karnataka’s Bellare on the night of July 26, 2022. The suspects allegedly belong to the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) which has the backing of the Muslim-backed Popular Front of India.
Earlier, in a hurriedly called press conference at his residence on Wednesday midnight, Bommai announced the cancellation of an official event at Vidhana Soudha, and ‘Janotsava’, a mega rally at Doddaballapur that was scheduled to be attended by BJP national President J P Nadda.
The CM also announced that his government will raise a specially trained commando force in the state to eliminate anti-national and terrorist forces. The details of it will be revealed after discussion with officials.
“There is anger in our hearts following this killing. This incident within a few months after Harsha’s (Bajarang Dal activists) murder in Shivamogga has pained me,” Bommai said.
Top photo: Basavaraj Bommai
*Shankar Raj is former Editor of The New Indian Express, Karnataka and Kerala, and writes regularly on current affairs.
