"There was no violence until Janardhan Reddy was allowed into Ballari": Karnataka DCM DK Shivakumar

Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], January 3 (ANI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Saturday stated that "Ballari was peaceful until BJP MLA Janardhan Reddy stepped into the district", adding that "the culprits of Ballari violence would be brought to justice."
Addressing a joint press conference at Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's Home office, Krishna, Shivakumar said, "There was no violence until Janardhan Reddy was allowed into Ballari. He doesn't have the right to talk about the violence. Our party will stand behind our MLA Bharat Reddy. The investigations will find out the culprits, and strict action will be taken against them."
Dismissing the BJP MLA Janardhan Reddy's statement that there was a conspiracy to kill him, the DCM accused Reddy of not being able to accept defeat, calling him "a drama master."
He said, "He is a drama master. He is movie producer after all and it is natural for him to act. Who will try to kill a man who has a built a fort and has hundreds of security staff. In fact, the people of Ballari are worried. Reddy family is not able to digest the defeat in Ballari and hence they are making these accusations."
Defending the state government and Congress-led events in Ballari, Shivakumar accused the BJP of interfering in the event.
"Our government is erecting a statue of Maharshi Valmiki in Ballari for the first time, and our MLA had taken the responsibility of that. What is wrong with putting up banners for the event across the city? BJP erects banners in front of my house too, what's wrong in it? There was no need for Janardhan Reddy to come into the picture. The investigation is going on and I won't interfere in that," he added.
The DCM further accused the BJP of trying to bring back the "Republic of Ballari."
"We have formed a committee from the party under the leadership of H M Revanna to study the incident. BJP is not able to digest Congress' victory in Ballari. Sriramulu and Janardhan Reddy are acting like friends after the defeat. We know the truth. They are trying to bring back the 'Republic of Ballari' once again, and we will not allow that," he said.
Further Karnataka Deputy CM said that the investigation is ongoing, adding that the government has issued new regulations on gun ownership.
"We are investigating who has fired. The law will take its course. The guilty will be punished...Our CM has given clear instructions on that. We have confiscated private guns in Ballari in view of this incident. We will formulate new regulations for gun ownership," he said.
Asked if he would agree with Congress MLA Bharat Reddy threatening to set their house on fire, Shivakumar said, "No one is going to burn down anything. I don't agree with that. I will look into what he has said."
The Karnataka government on Friday suspended Pavan Nejjur, IPS, Superintendent of Police, Ballari district, following the clash in Ballari.
Reacting to his suspension, the DCM said, "I spoke to the SP immediately after the incident, and I know what stage the SP was in. I know what he answered me. I spoke to other leaders too. Sriramulu also called me. Politics is not important, we want peace in Ballari."
The suspension followed a violent clash between supporters of Congress MLA Nara Bharath Reddy and BJP MLA G Janardhana Reddy on Thursday, during which Congress worker Rajashekhar was killed. (ANI)