Ramanagara (Karnataka) (PTI): A BJP worker sustained head injuries after he was attacked allegedly by two men with a wooden stick in Kempashettidoddi village here, police said on Thursday. Naveen CS (34), a farmer, was attacked on April 9, they said.

Following the incident, BJP State President BY Vijayendra accused the Congress of attacking BJP-JDS workers and creating an atmosphere of fear.

According to Naveen's family, a day before the incident, he had gone to his acquaintance Shekhar's house after some persons told him that the latter had called him. Things took a turn when Naveen did not return home that night.

In his complaint, the victim’s brother Shivakumar C S stated that on April 9, he got a call from someone saying that his brother was at Shekhar’s house in Kempashettidoddi village.

When Shivakumar and his father went there to pick Naveen up, they saw Shekhar and his accomplice allegedly fighting with Naveen, and hit him with a wooden stick on his head.

The accused even tried to allegedly attack Naveen with a knife, but he survived as his brother and father intervened. The accused then fled the spot. The victim was immediately rushed to a local hospital where after initial treatment, he was shifted to another one where is currently being treated.

According to Shivakumar, Shekhar and Naveen had some financial transactions and they suspect that a monetary dispute could have triggered the fight which eventually led to the attack.

“Based on the complaint, a case has been registered under sections 324 (voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapon or means), 504 ( Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code at Bidadi police station and further investigation is underway", a senior police officer said.

Nobody has been arrested in the matter yet, he said.

Taking to X, the State BJP President shared a picture of the party worker with injuries and alleged that Karnataka Congress which is "known for its politics of goondaism with money, liquor and muscle power" is desperate in Bengaluru Rural.

"They have brutally attacked the voters and BJP-JDS workers who stood against them and started creating fear in the constituency. A Congress goon has fatally attacked Naveen, a silk grower and BJP worker, but the culprits have not been arrested, raising suspicions,” he alleged.

Hitting out at Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and his brother Suresh who is the Congress candidate from Bangalore Rural, he further alleged that the district is in the grip of the DK brothers (Shivakumar and Suresh) and said that attacking BJP workers and threatening voters is an "unpardonable" offence.

He urged the Election Commission and the police to immediately act against the "Congress goons", conduct an impartial investigation and take all necessary measures to conduct peaceful polls and protect the voters.

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Bhopal/Indore, May 13 (PTI): Madhya Pradesh Minister and BJP leader Vijay Shah has sparked a major controversy with objectionable comments that appeared to be directed at Col Sofia Qureshi, whom he tried to project as a "sister of terrorists."

Under severe flak, Shah said if anyone is hurt by his statement, he is ready to apologise ten times, adding that he respects Colonel Qureshi more than his sister.

The Congress has appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to sack Shah from the Madhya Pradesh cabinet.

Colonel Qureshi had conducted regular press briefings, sharing details of the 'Operation Sindoor' launched by Indian armed forces to strike terrorists, joined by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh.

"Those people (terrorists) who had wiped out the sindoor (vermilion) of our sisters (in the Pahalgam terror attack)..We avenged these 'kate-pite' people by sending their sister to destroy them," Shah said.

"They (terrorists) killed our Hindu brothers by making them remove their clothes. PM Modi ji responded by sending their (terrorists') sister in an Army plane to strike them in their houses. They (terrorists) made our sisters widows, so Modiji sent the sister of their community to strip them and teach them a lesson", the BJP leader said while addressing a gathering in Ramkunda village near Indore.

He said, "Revenge was taken for the honour of our country (India), respect, and for the (slain) husbands of our sisters by sending a sister from your (terrorists') community to Pakistan".

The tribal welfare minister clarified that his remarks should not be construed otherwise.

Shah's remarks drew wide-scale condemnation, with Congress demanding his immediate dismissal from the MP cabinet.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said Shah, who made 'derogatory' remarks in reference to Colonel Sofia Qureshi, should be dismissed immediately.

"A minister of the BJP government of Madhya Pradesh has made a very derogatory, shameful and cheap remark about our brave daughter Colonel Sofia Qureshi. The terrorists of Pahalgam wanted to divide the country, but the country was united during the entire 'Operation Sindoor' to give a befitting reply to the terrorists," Kharge posted on X.

He alleged that the BJP-RSS harbours an anti-women mentality.

"First, the wife of the naval officer martyred in Pahalgam was trolled on social media, then the daughter of Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri was harassed, and now the BJP ministers are making such indecent comments about our brave woman Sophia Qureshi," Kharge said and appealed to PM Modi to immediately sack Shah.

Madhya Pradesh Congress president Jitu Patwari shared the video of Shah on X and asked whether the BJP agrees with the minister's "low thinking"?

The MP Congress Committee alleged that Shah's "indecent' and hate-filled" statement is not just a personal attack, but an open attack on India's military dignity, national unity, and women's honour.

Amid the raging controversy, the BJP's Madhya Pradesh general secretary Hitanand Sharma summoned Shah to the state headquarters in Bhopal.

According to sources, Sharma reprimanded the minister, who also met the state BJP president, Vishnu Dutt Sharma.

Speaking to reporters, Shah sought to attribute the intemperate remarks to his "disturbed" state of mind in view of the brutal killing of innocent people in Pahalgam by terrorists.

He claimed many members of his family have a military background and many were martyred.

"Sister Sophia has brought glory to India by rising above caste and religion. She is more respected than our own sister. I salute her for her service to the nation.

"We cannot even think of insulting her in our dreams. Still, if my words have hurt society and religion, then I am ready to apologise ten times,'' he added.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Manoj Shukla and the party workers blackened the nameplate of Shah at his bungalow and raised slogans seeking his resignation.