TARGETING GOVERNMENT: The former Chief Minister M. Veerappa Moily addressing a press conference in Bangalore on Wednesday. — Photo: K. Gopinathan

BANGALORE: The former Chief Minister M. Veerappa Moily on Wednesday said the State Government had "utterly failed" in preventing the riots in Mangalore and nearby areas last week, and alleged that it was trying to cover up its failure by accusing the Congress of being behind the conflagration.

Mr. Moily told presspersons that it was appalling that the Government seemed to have relied on the "information" provided by Bajrang Dal and Sri Rama Sene activists to come to the conclusion that SIMI (Students Islamic Movement of India) had been responsible for the violence.

Immediately after tension began to build up after vehicles allegedly ferrying cattle for slaughter were "seized" the Government should have put in place a mechanism to ensure that violence did not erupt and become uncontrollable.

There were no visits of local MLAs or MPs of the ruling coalition in the district, nor were peace marches held or reassurances given to the community that the situation was under control. Worse still, Home Minister M.P. Prakash was on record saying that the son of a Congress leader was responsible for the violence. "If that is so, why has he not been arrested?"

Mr. Moily said the Government must accept that it had not allowed the local administration the freedom to bring the situation under control, and that it should quit.

Whether it was the violence that marked the funeral procession of Rajkumar in April or last week's violence in Mangalore, the Government's handling of the law and order situation was inept, and cost the State dear.

Mr. Moily was also unhappy that when the law was clear that all and sundry could not call a bandh, the Government had chosen to look the other way, when the Bajrang Dal and similar outfits called one.

When Union Minster of State for Home Sriprakash Jaiswal was visiting the district, the Home Minister did not even receive him, and apprising him of the situation, he charged.

The same treatment was meted out to the former Chief Minister N. Dharam Singh, and president of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee M. Mallikarjun Kharge.

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