BengaluruJD(S) youth wing president Nikhil Kumaraswamy on Monday accused the state govt of indulging in “targeted politics” following the arrest of nine persons identified with the JD(S) and BJP in connection with the slipper-hurling incident involving Congress MLA Pradeep Eshwar during a Kempegowda Jayanti programme in Chikkaballapur.He demanded that the state govt register an FIR against the MLA, without naming Pradeep Eshwar, alleging that he had instigated the public to react. Meanwhile, BJP MP K Sudhakar also demanded that the govt register an FIR against those who allegedly instigated the crowd by showing disrespect to Bengaluru founder Kempegowda and sought that Pradeep be named as Accused No. 1.“The MLA had failed to handle the issue. He invokes the name of Ambedkar and claims he belongs to the Other Backward Classes (OBC) to secure votes. However, he did not attend Ambedkar Jayanti, Independence Day or Republic Day celebrations in Chikkaballapur. He was responsible for the untoward incident during the Kempegowda Jayanti celebrations, and hence the govt should register a case against him,” Sudhakar said.He further said that he would approach the court with video evidence and initiate legal proceedings against the MLA.Meanwhile, Nikhil met the suspects arrested in the alleged slipper-hurling case at the Anakanur sub-jail on the outskirts of Chikkaballapur. He alleged that innocent JD(S) workers, including those who had no role in the incident, had been deliberately targeted.Nikhil objected to the police registering a suo motu case, saying no offence serious enough to warrant such action had taken place. Alleging that the FIR was registered under pressure from elected representatives, he claimed that those exposing the govt’s failures were being targeted.Condemning the arrest of Akhil Reddy of Jeedamakalahalli, the district JD(S) social media president, Nikhil said he was a respectable individual with no criminal background and that his arrest had caused immense distress to his family as well as the families of the other arrested persons.Demanding action against the MLA, Nikhil alleged that the incident was deliberately provoked and claimed that the wrong people had been booked. Without naming the Congress legislator directly, he said it was evident against whom the FIR should have been registered.He also described Kempegowda as a leader who belonged to all communities and not to any particular caste, religion or section of society.Later, accompanied by Sidlaghatta MLA BN Ravikumar, JD(S) Core Committee chairman Krishna Reddy and other party functionaries, Nikhil visited Akhil Reddy’s residence and consoled his family, assuring them that the party would extend full legal assistance.Nikhil also announced that the party would stand by those allegedly framed in the case and ensure they secured bail.eom/
