The Karnataka BJP initiated a statewide protest on Wednesday to express condemnation over the purported incident of chanting pro-Pakistan slogans within the Assembly premises during the celebration of Congress candidate Syed Naseer Hussain's victory in the Rajya Sabha election. The state's home minister, meanwhile, asserted that the accusation was under investigation.
Leading the charge, R. Ashoka, the Leader of the Opposition, led a protest march from the State Legislators’ House to the Vidhana Soudha, criticizing the Congress government for its perceived lack of seriousness in addressing the issue.
Joining Ashoka in the protest were other prominent figures including the LoP in the Legislative Council Kota Srinivas Poojari, BJP General Secretary and MLA V. Sunil Kumar, along with several other BJP MLAs.
Ashoka emphasized, “I have sought time from the Governor’s office. The BJP delegation will meet him and submit a memorandum to sack the Congress government immediately. The matter will be raised in the Assembly session in a big manner.”
“It is shameful that people are allowed to raise 'Pakistan Zindabad' slogans in the premises of the state legislature. This development puts down the sacrifice of thousands of our soldiers. The Congress government had withdrawn more than 2,000 cases against the Popular Front of India (PFI) and Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) party workers accused in criminal cases. Today, anti-India and 'Pakistan Zindabad' slogans are taken everywhere,” he charged.
“Instead of promptly apprehending those responsible for chanting 'Pakistan Zindabad,' they were escorted safely in vehicles in the presence of the police,” Ashoka added.
Sunil Kumar remarked, "The Congress government has taken the incident lightly. The government has failed to ensure arrests in the case. This is the result of the policy of appeasement. The anti-national forces are emboldened in Congress rule. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah should take moral responsibility for the incident."
The BJP alleges that 'Pakistan Zindabad' slogans were raised during the celebrations of Congress' Syed Naseer Hussain's victory at the Vidhana Soudha premises on Tuesday night following the announcement of the Rajya Sabha election results.
Responding to the accusations, Karnataka Home Minister Dr. G. Parameshwara stated that the Congress party had not committed any wrongdoing in connection with the incident.
He mentioned that the incident involving an individual chanting 'Pakistan Zindabad' had been reported by the media. The media clippings would be obtained and sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) for analysis. Each media outlet had presented the story differently, he added.
"The BJP party has also lodged a complaint and both are being investigated. Some are claiming that the slogan was ‘Naseer Hussain Zindabad’ and some alleging that it was ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ slogan. If it is scientifically proven that an anti-national slogan is raised they will be punished, if not the question does not arise," the minister said.
In the meantime, the Karnataka Police have initiated a suo motu case regarding the incident.
