Hitting back at the Opposition BJP for staging protests seeking release of arrested Hindutva activist and kar sevak Shrikanth Pujari, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday described the arrested activist as a “social miscreant” who uses religion as a shield to protect his criminal activities and pointed out that he is facing allegations of involvement in 16 anti-social activities, including illegal liquor sales, gambling, and matka.
In a release, the Chief Minister said, “The BJP leaders should either openly declare their party’s support for all his alleged criminal actions, or publicly apologize and withdraw their protest.”
He remarked, “Pujari, who flaunts himself as a devotee of Rama and a kar sevak is in fact a social miscreant in the eyes of the law. If such individuals are not arrested and are allowed to roam freely, then even Lord Rama will not forgive.”
