Religious discrimination in Karnataka worse than Gujarat: Deve Gowda

In a scathing attack, JD(S) chief HD Deve Gowda today described the BJP-ruled Karnataka as "worse than Gujarat" as far as violent incidents related to religious discrimination were concerned.
    
Reacting to Karnataka chief minister BS Yeddyurappa's statement that last two days' violence in Shimoga and Hassan towns were due to certain "selfish elements", Gowda said ever since BJP began its rule in the state, incidents of religion-related violence have only increased.

"In terms of religious discrimination, Karnataka is worse than Gujarat. When Yeddyurappa had taken oath as chief minister two years back, he had promised to give the state, Gujarat-style governance. All the incidents of burning of churches in the state and religion-related violence are examples of his Modi-style of functioning," he told reporters here.

On Yeddyurappa blaming "selfish elements" for spreading violence in the state, Gowda said, "had he known how to run the government, he would not have made such a comment."

Shimoga and Hassan (home districts of Yeddyurappa and Gowda respectively) witnessed violent incidents on March 1 and 2, over an article purportedly written by Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen.
   
The violence left two persons dead, including one in police firing.
   
Nasreen has denied having written any article for any Karnataka-based newspaper.