Udupi
The Udupi District Youth Congress has alleged that Abhay, the third accused in the Karkala rape case, is associated with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Hindu-supporting groups. Yogish Acharya, President of the Karkala Block Congress, made these claims at a press conference on Wednesday at the Udupi Press Club. He stated that Abhay, who is said to have supplied drugs to the rape victim, is a BJP worker and is shown in photographs with a BJP MLA. Acharya noted that Abhay’s social media features a cover photo of Sunil Kumar, a BJP MLA.
Acharya criticized the BJP for its reaction to the arrest of Altaf, the first accused, and suggested that the party’s portrayal of the case as a ‘jihadi’ act was an attempt to divert attention from other controversies. He accused Sunil Kumar of fostering an environment that encourages violence.
Deepak Kotian, President of the Udupi District Youth Congress, demanded clarification on whether the BJP supports Hindus or if it is against Congress. He emphasized that the Karkala rape case should be investigated impartially to ensure justice for the victim. Kotian also suggested that the BJP’s focus on the rape case might be an attempt to distract from issues related to the Parashuram bronze statue.
The press conference was attended by Sourab Ballal, Sajjan Shetty, Arjun, and Ramesh Kanchan, all affiliated with various Congress organizations.
