Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Thursday called for restraint within the State Congress Unit, saying that the leaders must avoid making any speculative comments about the 10/11 blast near Red Fort in New Delhi.
His remarks came as Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and two members of the state cabinet questioned the "timing of the blast", further making vague implications to alleged political motives.
Speaking to reporters after a cabinet meeting in Bengaluru, Shivakumar said, "We should be careful and vigilant. Whether it is a blast in Delhi or anywhere else, we must ensure peace. Congress strongly condemns it. The perpetrator of the incident must be brought to justice. Blaming is not the solution. Protecting the common man and the government's image is."
However, his comments didn't sit well with his party members alone. State Housing Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan and CM Siddaramaiah's economic advisor, Basavaraj Rayareddi, both raised questions, stating the fact that the blast took place just a day before the polling was scheduled for the second phase of the Bihar assembly elections 2025.
Ahmed claimed that there was a certain "political involvement" in the deadly explosion. He said, "The bomb blast happened on the 10th, and there were elections in Bihar on the 11th. We have heard that there is political involvement in this...Home Minister Amit Shah should provide an answer."
Rayareddi questioned the incident, calling it "suspicious." He said, "They might have felt they couldn't win Bihar after the first phase, so they tried it in the second phase. I can't allege directly, but it raises suspicion. The BJP and the Prime Minister are not as clean as they claim."
Weighing in further, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge stressed that the explosion was a "serious security lapse" and the Centre must be held accountable for it. He said, "Let there be a thorough investigation. The culprit should be punished. Despite all these agencies, the government has failed. The Congress President added that the issue will be raised in the Parliament session scheduled on December 1.
NDA hits backLashing out at the Congress, Union Minister for food, public distribution, and consumer affairs, Pralhad Joshi, accused the opposition leaders of engaging in "cheap politics" by linking the Delhi blast to the Bihar elections.
Joshi said, "The car explosion near Delhi's Red Fort area has shocked the entire nation. At such a sensitive time, instead of demonstrating unity and strength, Karnataka Congress leaders are making statements that sound as though they are spreading a red carpet for terrorists."
Adding, "What connection does the car blast near Delhi's Red Fort have with the Bihar elections? Congress leaders should act with more sense. They must stop making irresponsible comments and playing cheap politics that only embolden terrorists."
He further said that despite investigations still underway, the Congress leaders have "jumped to conclusions prematurely."
Urging for unity, the Union Minister said, "Whenever a terror attack occurs in the country, every party must rise above politics, support the government's actions to crush terrorism, and demonstrate national unity. But Congress leaders engaging in such petty politics is tragic and unfortunate for the nation."