Bellary hand behind clashes?

Intelligence sleuths have got information that a key Karnataka BJP minister and Bellary strongman allegedly funded radical Hindu outfits to orchestrate riots in the city.

A top intelligence source told this correspondent that the minister, who runs mines in AP, had developed a grouse against the K. Rosaiah government for its swift action in curbing illegal mining and transport of ore and for its cancellation of mine leases.

“Using his money power, this minister had reportedly arranged funding to different outfits in the city,” said the source. The state Congress leadership, which has got the information about the Karnataka minister’s alleged role, has communicated it to the AICC leadership. It is learnt that the Congress president, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, who was briefed about the intelligence findings, has directed the state government to take firm steps in handling the law and order situation.

Meanwhile, the Vijayawada Congress MP, Mr Lagadapati Rajagopal, who met the Congress president’s political secretary, Mr Ahmed Patel, also alleged that Hyderabad riots were the handiwork of the BJP.

“It is all happening after Mr Kishen Reddy took the reins of the party in the state,” he said. “The BJP wants to prove its existence in Hyderabad through this.” He appealed to state government to curb the incidents with iron hand and warned that Pakistan’s ISI would further exploit the situation.

The former minister, Mr J.C. Diwakar Reddy, a close confidante of the Chief Minister, also met Mr Ahmed Patel on Tuesday morning and briefed him about the latest situation in the state. Mr Diwakar Reddy told mediapersons, “Certainly there is an effort to destablise the Rosaiah government at any cost,” he said.