BJP targets Siddaramaiah for "Muslim area" remarks, calls it "Jihadi mindset"
Bengaluru (PTI): Senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah's statement asking "Why put Savarkar's photo in Muslim area?" has evoked sharp reaction from the ruling BJP, with its leaders terming it as "Jihadi mindset", and some even seeking to know whether such localities were part of Pakistan according to him.
The Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly on Tuesday, blaming the BJP for creating communal tension in the district headquarters town of Shivamogga on August 15, had raised questions about attempts by Hindu and BJP activists to install Savarkar's photo in a Muslim dominated area.
"They tried to put Savarkar's photo in a Muslim area. Let them put up whatever photo, no problem. But, why do that in a Muslim area? And, why did they say no to Tipu Sultan's photo?" he asked.
Lashing out at Siddaramaiah, a former Chief Minister, state BJP leaders have accused him of indulging in 'Muslim appeasement' and even demanded his expulsion from the Congress.
"What do you mean by Muslim Area? By periodically displaying a 'Jihadi mindset' you are proving to be more dangerous than the Jihadis who kill innocents," BJP National General Secretary C T Ravi said.
Challenging Siddaramaiah for a public debate on "Nationalist Veer Savarkar" and "Tyrant Tipu Sultan", he asked, "Dare to accept?"
Further calling it a mindset that instigates forces that want to divide the country, Ravi said, "does Muslim area mean Pakistan? It's a dangerous mindset. Siddarmaiah has to withdraw his statement."
Revenue Minister R Ashoka asked whether Siddarmaiah is of a thinking that Muslim-residing areas of this country belongs to Pakistan.
"Siddaramaiah seems to be in a confusion, does Muslim residential areas belong to Pakistan? It is part of India....Savarkar fought for the freedom of this country and was in Andaman (&) Nicobar jail for about 12-14 years. Should we ask the local community and put photos of national icons?" he said, adding that Congress has no morality to preach about where to install Savarkar's photo.
Senior BJP leader K S Eshwarappa, hitting out at Siddaramaiah's remarks, said, "is that place his (Siddaramaiah) father's property? Whole of 'Bharatha' or Hindustan belongs to 'Bharateeyas'. There is nothing called Muslim-land in this country."
"There is not even an inch of land in this country that belongs to Muslims....are they playing a game? can anyone say anything?...Siddaramaiah is always in favour of Muslims and anti-nationals," he said, as he called the former CM's statement as anti -national and urged Congress president Sonia Gandhi to expel him from the party.
State BJP Vice President B Y Vijayendra said as India celebrate 75 years of independence, it's an irony that the Congress still finds itself tied to the "shackles of slavery celebrating a tyrant and a mass murderer like Tipu Sultan, and has no place for freedom fighters like Veer Savarkar".
"What is the compulsion to issue statement that the photo of our proud freedom fighter Veer Savarkar can't be displayed at Muslim areas. Is Shivamogga, according to you, located in an Islamic nation or in India?" he asked.
"Appeasement politics has been the main root cause for all communal disturbances that we are witnessing", Vijayendra, the son of former CM B S Yediyurappa said, adding that "Your statements have not only instigated and encourage the communal forces to indulge in violence, but also to disrespect our nation and the great freedom fighters." PTI KSU RS ROH
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Delhi polls: BJP releases second list of 29 candidates, features ex-CM's son, Kapil Mishra
New Delhi, Jan 11: The BJP on Saturday released its second list featuring 29 candidates for the Delhi Assembly polls, fielding Kapil Mishra, a former AAP leader now identified with hardline Hindutva politics, from Karawal Nagar.
It has fielded Harish Khurana, son of former Delhi chief minister Madan Lal Khurana, from the Moti Nagar constituency.
With the latest announcement, the party has so far named candidates for 58 seats of the 70-member Delhi Assembly.
The elections are scheduled to be held on February 5 and the votes will be counted on February 8.
Mishra, who replaced sitting party MLA Mohan Singh Bisht, made several speeches, denounced as inflammatory by rival parties, just before communal riots broke out in northeast Delhi in February 2020.
Sitting BJP MLA from Laxmi Nagar seat Abhay Verma will seek reelection from the same seat. He won the constituency in 2020 with a narrow margin of just over 800 votes.
Both Mishra and Verma are Purvanchalis. Two other candidates, Bajrang Shukla from Kirari and Pankaj Singh from Vikaspuri, also belong to the same community.
Delhi BJP's Mandir Prakoshth (temple cell) chief Karnail Singh is the party's candidate against sitting AAP MLA and former minister Satyendar Jain at Shakoor Basti seat.
Former Kasturba Nagar MLA Neeraj Basoya, who recently defected to the BJP from Congress, was fielded from the same seat.
Former Delhi BJP general secretary (organisation) Pawan Sharma will contest Uttam Nagar seat that he won in 2013.
Deepti Indora, Matia Mahal, Urmila Kailash Gangwar, Madipur (SC), Shweta Saini, Tilak Nagar, Priyanka Gautam, Kondli (SC), and Neelam Pahalwan from Najafgarh are the party's women candidates so far.
The list features four former MLAs and eight sitting municipal councilors.
Former mayor Shyam Sharma was fielded from the Hari Nagar seat which has a significant number of Sikh voters.
Tickets on remaining 12 tickets will likely be announced soon after discussions on seats like Delhi Cantt, Greater Kailash and Shahdara.
Party sources said former Union minister Meenakshi Lekhi was considered for the Greater Kailash seat, although she was interested in contesting from Delhi Cantt.
भाजपा की केन्द्रीय चुनाव समिति ने दिल्ली में होने वाले विधानसभा चुनाव 2025 के लिए निम्नलिखित नामों पर अपनी स्वीकृति प्रदान की है। pic.twitter.com/STdMQZZ2VM
— BJP (@BJP4India) January 11, 2025
