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Bengaluru, Dec 23: Bengaluru South BJP MP Tejasvi Surya on Sunday came in for criticism for calling the anti- citizenship law protestors 'illiterate puncture walas'.

At a protest rally here, Surya said, "People working in the IT-BT sector and all those contributing to the economy of the country such as lawyers, bank employees and ordinary workers like autorickshaw drivers have gathered here today.

They are not those 'illiterate puncture walas."

He went on to say that the crowd at the pro-CAA rally comprised well-educated people, who have understood the Citizenship Amendment Act fully well.

As the video of Surya's remarks went viral, Opposition Leader (Congress) and former Chief minister Siddaramaiah hit out at him saying the statement reflects on his mental status and his attitude towards the poor, down-trodden and labourers.

"Who does he represent? He is an RSS man, grown in ABVP.

He represents the system, which took away rights and opportunities of Shudras, Dalits and backward communities.

What else can you expect of him?" Siddaramaiah told reporters in Mangaluru on Monday.

Congress leader D K Shivakumar too slammed Surya for his statement.

Questioning Surya whether living would be possible without those doing menial jobs, Shivakumar said those fixing a puncture are illiterate because educated people like him (Surya) never came forward to educate them.

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Mirzapur (UP) (PTI): BJP president Nitin Nabin on Wednesday voiced confidence that his party will form the government in West Bengal with a "thumping majority".

Polling is underway for 142 constituencies in the second and final phase of the West Bengal assembly elections, covering key districts, including Kolkata, Howrah and North and South 24 Parganas.

The high-stakes contest is being seen as decisive for the ruling TMC's bid for a fourth consecutive term and the BJP's push to form its first government in the state. The first phase held on April 23 recorded a high voter turnout of over 93 per cent, reflecting intense electoral engagement.

Speaking to reporters in Mirzapur, Nabin said, "The BJP will form the government in Bengal. We are winning the elections with a massive majority."

Earlier in the day, the BJP chief visited the Vindhyavasini temple and offered prayers. The rituals were conducted by his priest Acharya Agastya Kumar Dwivedi.

On his first visit to the district after assuming office, Nabin was welcomed by party workers at several places. At the temple, he was received by city MLA Ratnakar Mishra and District Magistrate Pawan Kumar Gangwar, who felicitated him with a traditional 'angvastram'.

After offering prayers for about 10 minutes amid Vedic chants, Nabin held a meeting at a hotel with local MLAs, including Mishra, Majhwan MLA Suchismita Maurya and Madihan MLA Ramashankar Patel.

Patel said Nabin emphasised strengthening the organisation and asked public representatives to focus on serving people in their respective constituencies.

Several party leaders, including district president Lal Bahadur Saroj, district vice-president Gaurav Umar, municipal chairperson Shyam Sundar Kesari, women workers and senior officials, were present on the occasion.

Elaborate security arrangements were put in place by the district administration for the visit, with multiple officers of circle officer rank deployed, officials said.

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