Bengaluru violence: MLA Akhanda Srinivasamurthy visits house, turns emotional

BENGALURU: “I’ve lost all my valuables and my house has been burnt. I don’t need anything. My only humble request is if anyone has found my mother’s taali (mangalsutra), please return it,” an emotional Akhanda Srinivasamurthy, Congress MLA from Pulakeshinagar, said on Thursday after returning to his Kavalbyrasandra residence.
Two days earlier, it was the target of mob violence. He was accompanied by his wife and children and scores of supporters.The two-time MLA and his family were in tears as they stood in front of the house. Once inside, they literally began picking up pieces of their old life.
The followers joined the MLA and his family in the search and soon the mangalsutra was found and returned to him. His children, nephews and nieces scoured the rubble for their marks cards but they had been reduced to ashes. He and his brothers lived in their ancestral residence.
Srinivasamurthy said it was a planned attack. “All communities in this area live in harmony. It is still unclear why my house was attacked though the mistake was by someone else. What have I done to those who burnt my house? What if something had happened to my wife or children?”
Asked whether the upcoming BBMP elections was the reason for the attack, he said, “What have I got to do with corporation elections? A special investigation agency needs to probe this incident.”
He said the house had been built by his father and he was born and brought up there. “The mob that attacked my house is not from this area. If police cannot provide security to an elected representative like me, how can I protect my constituents? I’ve been calling the city police commissioner, but he is yet to take my calls and share information,” he added.
Srinivasamurthy, meanwhile, has been receiving support from across the political spectrum. “Deputy chief minister Ashwath Narayan, revenue minister R Ashoka, Member of Parliament Shobha Karandlaje, former chief minister Siddaramaiah, KPCC president DK Shiva Kumar and former ministers KJ George and Ramalinga Reddy have extended their support to me during these tough times,” he said.