Bengaluru, May 5 (UNI) Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje on Monday launched a blistering attack on Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, calling him "Tipu Sultan" and accusing the Congress-led Karnataka government of emboldening anti-social elements through political appeasement and selective case withdrawals.

"After 2013, Siddaramaiah has become the real 'Tipu'. Under his tenure, anti-social elements and terrorists have been let loose on the streets," Karandlaje said while addressing the media here. She alleged that the state's law and order machinery had collapsed under the Congress regime and accused the government of favouring one particular community for vote bank politics.

"Whenever Siddaramaiah comes to power, law and order deteriorates. It happened back in 2013 and it is repeating again now," she charged, blaming the Chief Minister for withdrawing criminal cases that she claimed had led to an increase in murders across the state.

Referring to the recent killing of Suhas Shetty, Karandlaje said, "They called Suhas Shetty a rowdy-sheeter. If they already had information about threats to his life, why wasn’t he given protection? He was brutally hacked to death."

The minister also raised concerns over the banned Popular Front of India (PFI), stating that its involvement in the murder of BJP youth leader Praveen Nettaru in 2022 had been evident. "We had long been pressing for a ban on the PFI. The central government acted because of its clear role in violent incidents," she said.

Comparing the situation in Karnataka to Bihar, Karandlaje remarked, "Earlier, criminal activities were rampant in Bihar. Today, peace prevails there. But here in Karnataka, murders are being reported daily — one, two, or even three in a day. People from other states are asking me whether the Congress government is even functioning."

She further claimed that during the previous Congress tenure, 23 Hindu activists were killed and warned that a similar pattern was resurfacing under the present regime.

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