Last Updated: March 06, 2024, 16:13 IST
Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah lashed out at the BJP. (Image: PTI/File)
Amid the attack over the Vidhana Soudha case, the ruling Congress asked the BJP why no case was registered against the Mandya worker in 2022, when they were in power. The BJP has called it vendetta politics
The arrest of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) worker Ravi alias Bullet Ravi in the 2022 pro-Pakistan slogan case has led to a new political storm in Karnataka.
The shouting of ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ slogans on the premises of Bengaluru’s Vidhana Soudha, after the victory of Congress leader Syed Naseer Hussain in the Rajya Sabha polls on February 27, had given ammunition to the BJP to attack the Congress government over the law and order situation in the state.
However, on Tuesday, BJP worker Ravi was arrested in Mandya in connection with the 2022 pro-Pakistan slogan case. The arrest came just a day after the state police arrested three accused in the Vidhana Soudha case.
THE 2022 CASE
In his complaint, Kannambadi Kumar, a lawyer, claimed that a video of a BJP protest on Pakistan foreign minister’s comments against Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Mandya, which emerged on December 18, 2022, showed ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ slogans being raised, even as another person behind the accused attempted to close his mouth.
THE ATTACK
Now, the ruling Congress has questioned the BJP on why no case was registered against the Mandya BJP worker in 2022, when they were in power. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM DK Shivakumar led the attack. “We have acted as per the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) report. The BJP needs to be asked why they did not register a case? They speak like they are the biggest patriots. Did they take part in the freedom fight,” asked Siddaramaiah.
Shivakumar also lashed out at the BJP for demanding his and the CM’s resignation over the issue. “Will give the resignations. When do they (BJP) need? Ask them when and who needs it? BJP workers gave slogans in Mandya and the case was closed overnight. We conducted transparent investigation and caught the accused. So are we committed or were they? Why didn’t they register a case,” he asked.
Meanwhile, the BJP has accused the Congress government of vendetta politics. “When the incident took place in 2022, the police conducted an inquiry and found that it wasn’t a deliberate action. Now to balance the Vidhana Soudha case, the government has got two Hindus arrested in Mandya. It is unfortunate that the CM and Deputy CM are comparing this incident with the Vidhana Soudha one,” said S Prakash, BJP spokesperson.