Bengaluru, Jan. 3 -- Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Saturday strongly defended the Congress-led government and the party's event in Ballari, accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of jealousy and of attempting to disturb law and order, as the state intensified its probe into the recent violent clash that claimed the life of a Congress worker.

Speaking to the media, Shivakumar said the Congress had organised a "beautiful programme" in Ballari for the installation of a Maharishi Valmiki statue, attended by several Valmiki community leaders. "Congress held a beautiful program giving the Valmiki statue in Ballari, with the presence of a lot of Valmiki leaders. What is wrong with having posters around the city?" he asked....