BJP MP Tejasvi Surya says opposers of CAA are 'puncturewalas', faces backlash
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.
Want to know what privilege sounds like?
— Srivatsa (@srivatsayb) December 23, 2019
MP @Tejasvi_Surya, who hails from a rich political family, mocks CAA protestors as ILLITERATES and PUNCTURE WALAS
Are the poor not supposed to protest now?
Such crass elitism is unbecoming of a parliamentarianpic.twitter.com/Ijn3vuYLGB
On one hand, PM keeps talking about his humble chaiwala background
— Deepak (@Deepak_Ramaiah) December 23, 2019
On the other, his MP @Tejasvi_Surya mocks people saying illiterates & Puncture walas are protesting
Tejasvi, are these people singing national anthem at Town Hall illiterates? Shame on you for such cheap talk pic.twitter.com/NJ3xpObgGm
Dear @Tejasvi_Surya sir,
— ? (@Proton_Doctor) December 23, 2019
My father runs a cycle repairing shop in my village and with his hard earned money, he ensured my education...
Your " puncture wala" comment is in a bad taste...
Don't forget ye desh aak chai bechne wala ko pradhanmantri banaya he n I am proud of it!
Hey @Tejasvi_Surya , whats wrong with PUNCTURE WALAS and illiterates... when so called CHAI WALA can become PM, why cannot PUNCTURE WALAS?? And Illiterates are there becoz there are no schools...you being a government agent,its your failure.
— Myths of Opportunity!! (@WhiteKnight___) December 23, 2019
Bangalore MP @Tejasvi_Surya says those who oppose CAA are only "puncture wallahs" unlike professionals supporting CAA who "contribute to the nation". He seems to have learnt dog whistling quite well from Dear Leader https://t.co/Xmf5tQGguu
— Yeh Log ! (@yehlog) December 22, 2019
Everyone is not as privileged and have social capital as you do. As an elected representative, u must behave well and be empathetic towards people. Stop being arrogant. Your choice of words - totally unacceptable. @Tejasvi_Surya #CAA_NRC_Protests https://t.co/IwhhU3rxgO
— Shruthi H M । ಶ್ರುತಿ ಎಚ್ ಎಮ್ (@shruthihm1) December 22, 2019
Tejasvi Surya is just a privileged Amul Baby.
— Advaid (@Advaidism) December 23, 2019
The PM always brags about his humble chaiwala background and his MP's mock protesting citizens as illiterates & Puncture walas.
23 crores Indians go to bed on an empty stomach daily. Imagine if they all rise up??
If a chaiwaala can become a PM today, Puncture waala can also become a leader one fine day..!!!
— guruprasad (@iamrealguru) December 23, 2019
Not to estimate a person's potential by his profession..!!!
BTW in a democratic country everyone have the rights to protest against government's unconstitutional policies..!!!
@Tejasvi_Surya Please don't bring IT professionals in your false speeches. I am an IT professional and pay a significant portion of my income in taxes and I don't support CAA and NRC and I can debate you for that.#CAA_NRC_Protest
— Rise and Speak (@Rise2Speak) December 22, 2019
@Tejasvi_Surya aren't you ashamed that @narendramodi Punctured the Economy .. Respect People who Fix Punctures rather than prostrate before pepole who cause Puncture deliberately..
— TadipaarKaBAAP (@INCBommanahalli) December 22, 2019
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South African police arrest suspect in mass shooting that killed 12, including 3 children
Johannesburg (AP): A 32-year-old suspect has been arrested in connection with a mass shooting which claimed the lives of 12 people including three children at an unlicensed pub earlier this month, South African police said on Monday.
The man is suspected of being one of the three people who opened fire on patrons in a pub at Saulsville township, west of South Africa's capital Pretoria, killing 12 people including three children aged 3, 12 and 16.
At least 13 people were also injured during the attack, whose motive remains unknown.
According to the police, the suspect was arrested on Sunday while traveling to Botlokwa in Limpopo province, more than 340 km from where the mass shooting took place on Dec 6.
An unlicensed firearm believed to have been used during the attack was recovered from the suspect's vehicle.
“The 32-year-old suspect was intercepted by Limpopo Tracking Team on the R101 Road in Westenburg precinct. During the arrest, the team recovered an unlicensed firearm, a hand gun, believed to have been used in the commission of the multiple murders. The firearm will be taken to the Forensic Science Laboratory for ballistic analysis,” police said in statement.
The suspect was arrested on the same day that another mass shooting at a pub took place in the Bekkersdal township, west of Johannesburg, in which nine people were killed and 10 wounded when unknown gunmen opened fire on patrons.
Police have since launched a search for the suspects.
South Africa has one of the highest homicide rates in the world and recorded more than 26,000 homicides in 2024 — an average of more than 70 a day. Firearms are by far the leading cause of death in homicides.
The country of 62 million people has relatively strict gun ownership laws, but many killings are committed with illegal guns, according to authorities.
According to police, mass shootings at unlicensed bars are becoming a serious problem. Police shut down more than 11,000 illegal taverns between April and September this year and arrested more than 18,000 people for involvement in illegal liquor sales.
