BJP is a group of radicals who instigated communal violence, says Karnataka minister Ramanath Rai

The BJP was a party comprising a group of "radicals" who divided people and instigated communal violence to gain votes, Karnataka Forests Minister and district-in charge Ramanath Rai alleged on Monday.

Speaking to reporters here, he said BJP is a group of "radicals who divided people and instigated communal violence to gain votes", he said.

He rubbished Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's recent criticism of Congress government in Karnataka and said the latter should make his own government's credentials better before commenting on Karnataka.

Hundreds of small children had died in Uttar Pradesh for want of oxygen in hospitals and the law and order situation there had been abysmal since Adityanath took office, he alleged.

He had not been able to perform in his own state and was giving advice to others, Rai said.

Rai said the cancellation of BJP president Amit Shah's scheduled visit to the city last week itself was proof that BJP leaders had lost their hopes of good electoral performance in Dakshina Kannada districts in the coming elections.

The people would support a party like Congress which had always tried to protect communal harmony and not those who incited violence, Rai said.