Karnataka BJP Assures Slain BJYM Leader Praveen Nettaru’s Family Of Building His Dream House

Karnataka Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders are now pooling efforts to help the family of slain Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) leader Praveen Nettaru, whose murder is said to have upset the party and the political equations in the state.

State party president Nalin Kumar Kateel has assured the family that he would build them a house.

As reported by One India, the task of constructing Nettaru‘s ‘dream house‘ has been taken up by Kateel, who visited the grieving family earlier this week.

Observers call it an attempt to salvage the image of Kateel that took a severe beating after workers almost toppled his car out of anger as he joined the funeral of Nettaru. 

This comes two days after Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai made the announcement of a job for Nettaru’s wife at his office at the party’s Janaspandana rally. 

This request was reportedly spearheaded by party vice-president B Y Vijayendra who, as reported by media, not only requested the party leaders to make a provision but also nudged Bommai announcement during the rally. 

Vijayendra was also among the first few to visit the house of Nettaru immediately after the funeral of the youth leader.

Various organisations and individuals have been pitching in to support the family of Nettaru. Recently, as tweeted by BJP leader Kapil Mishra, a total contribution of Rs 20 lakh was made, of which Rs 11 lakh was contributed by film producer Manish Mundra.

National Investigation Agency (NIA) investigations are also being carried out in the region with police having made 10 arrests before handing over the case. The central investigative agency conducted raids at around 30 locations last week across Dakshina Kannada which included various premises owned by SDPI (Social Democratic Party of India) leaders.

While on one hand all the effort and support is being called a result of the public outrage, it is also being criticised as an election gimmick.

Some groups and organisations are questioning the credibility of Kateel’s announcement citing the case of Deepak Rao, a Hindu activist, who was killed in 2018 just before the elections. His speech-impaired brother was said to have been promised a job by MP Kateel, but hasn't been given one to this date, say local workers.

The case of Sharat Madivala too is being rekindled among workers as investigations had pointed to the involvement of Popular Front of India (PFI) leaders in his murder, but the party "that came to power especially on the coast winning 7 out of 8 seats" took no action on the organisation.

Kateel’s response on a news channel regarding the same also came in for criticism as he said that he had asked Madivala’s father to give a letter to the SP seeking NIA investigations into his son’s case, as reported.