Eshwarappa questions the Election Commission’s silence over Cong. leaders’ statements in Davangere

Former Deputy Chief Minister K.S. Eshwarappa has questioned the silence of the Election Commission over Congress leaders’ statements with regard to Muslim voters in the Davangere South.

In a press conference here on Friday, Mr. Eshwarappa said that he and many leaders had been facing multiple cases for their statements on Hindutva. However, there had been no cases of Congress leaders who openly gave statements appealing to Muslim voters in Davangere.

Referring to statements by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his colleagues in the Cabinet, Mr. Eshwarappa said that there had been reports of a Minister resigning if a Muslim candidate was not fielded on the Congress ticket.

Mr. Siddaramaiah and other leaders of the Congress had been speaking of pacifying a particular section of voters, he said.

“If the Election Commission were alive, it should file cases against all these Congress leaders, who have been camping in Davangere and making statements targeting Muslim voters,” he demanded.

Further, he commented that when he and other leaders spoke of Hindutva, they were accused of hurting the religious sentiments and slapped with cases. He wanted to know why there had been no cases against Congress leaders for their recent statements.