Congress MLAs from Kodagu A.S. Ponnanna and Manthar Gowda lashed out at the BJP for “playing politics” over a dead body.

The MLAs addressed a press conference in Madikeri after the BJP held a protest in Kushalnagar demanding the inclusion of their names in the FIR on party worker Vinay Somaiah’s suicide. They also pointed out that the protesters displayed “insensitivity” to human values by failing to accompany the dead body to the funeral after holding the protest.

MLA for Virajpet Ponnanna, who is also the legal adviser to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, claimed that the BJP workers and leaders did not accompany the dead body. The genuine mourning over the death of Vinay Somaiah was expressed only by his family members and friends who gathered at his native place in Somwarpet for the last rites.

Decrying the open statement given by the BJP leaders that they will not allow the last rites till their demand for inclusion of Congress MLAs in the FIR was met, Mr. Ponnanna described the BJP leaders and workers as “vultures” who played politics over a dead body. Mr. Ponnanna also blamed the BJP for Mr. Vinay Somaiah’s unfortunate suicide.

MLA for Madikeri Manthar Gowda said they also shared the pain over the death of a young man. “All of us across party lines are pained over his death,” he said, while asking how many of those who participated in the protest visited Vinay Somaiah’s house for the funeral.

Wondering why his name was dragged into the controversy, Mr. Gowda said he was looking forward to the probe uncovering the truth behind the incident.

Mr. Gowda said, “Mr. Ponnanna and I were working hard to bring development to Kodagu, and the hurdles posed by the BJP leaders were disappointing.”

Mr. Ponnanna said the BJP leaders were targeting them out of jealousy for the good work they were doing in the district.