Yatnal charging on BJP after taking contract from Congress: BJP MP Renukacharya
Mysuru: BJP leader MP Renukacharya has accused MLA Basangouda Patil Yatnal of working against the BJP, acting under a contract from the Congress party. The BJP leader was speaking at a media briefing held at a private hotel here on Saturday.
Earlier in the day, a delegation of BJP leaders in favour of the party's state President BY Vijayendra who are touring various districts in the state arrived at Chamundi hills in Mysuru on Saturday and offered prayers to Sri Chamundeshwari.
During the press conference, Renukacharya criticized Yatnal’s statements, he questioned, "He(Yatnal) says he will support Siddharamaiah, what does this mean?"
"Yatnal's rhetoric was a major reason for the BJP's losses in the recent general election and by-elections to three constituencies (Sandur, Channapatna,Shiggaon). He has allegedly engaged in 'match-fixing' with Vijayapura Minister MB Patil," Renukacharya claimed.
ALSO READ: BJP’s defeat in elections due to your loose talk: Renukacharya targets Yatnal
He further accused Yatnal of being a persistent troublemaker for senior BJP leader BS Yediyurappa, labeling him a "Shakuni" and "Mir Sadhaka" for his divisive actions. "BJP high command has appointed Vijayendra as the state President not Yediyurappa, and Yatnal's opposition against Vijayendra is akin to opposing the high command," he stated.
Meanwhile, Renukacharya challenged Yatnal to disclose the name of the national leader allegedly backing his(Yatnal) actions. "If Yatnal has the courage, let him name the leader," he stated.
Additionally, he also clarified that Union Ministers Prahlad Joshi and Shobha Karandlaje, who left during the protest against the Wakf issue, does not mean that they are aligned with Yatnal.
Renukacharya demanded disciplinary action against Yatnal by the pontiff for insulting leaders like Vishwaguru Basavanna. He also said that the pontiffs should make efforts to force the BJP to expel Yatnal.
He revealed that he has received threats following his remarks against Yatnal since Friday night. "I am not afraid of such threats, a meeting will be held soon in Murudeshwar. Later, another massive meeting will be held in Davangere with around 3-4 lakh people. Additionally, I will also meet national leaders and demand Yatnal's ouster," he added.
In the meantime, Tensions flared during the press conference as a group of BJP workers demanded Yatnal’s immediate expulsion, rather than holding any meeting.
When former MLA Renukacharya was speaking, the group stood up and shouted slogans, "Don't go around like this, Yatnal is not the only Hindu; we Hindus must stand united and remove him first!"
Despite attempts by BJP leaders to pacify the crowd, the protests continued.
Renukacharya eventually calmed the protesters by chanting "Bharat Mata Ki Jai" and resuming his address, though the workers continued to press for action against Yatnal.
Former ministers BC Patil, Katta Subrahmanya Naidu, Harathalu Halappa, and former MLA Somashekar Reddy and others were present at the press conference.
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Karnataka Governor gives assent to legislation against ‘honour killing’ in inter-caste marriages
Bengaluru: The government has brought into force the Karnataka Freedom of Choice in Marriage and Prevention and Prohibition of Crimes in the name of honour and tradition (Eva Nammava Eva Nammava) Act, 2026, intended to restrict ‘honour killings’ in inter-caste marriages.
According to The Indian Express, the legislation received assent from Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot on April 9 and was officially notified in the state gazette on April 10. The law had been passed unanimously by the state legislature last month.
The Bill was proposed by the Congress government in the wake of caste-linked ‘honour killings’ in the state, including the December 21, 2025, murder near Hubli of a 20-year-old Lingayat woman by her father for marrying a man from another caste.
The phrase ‘Eva Nammava Eva Nammava’ in the title is in reference to the message of universal humanity that the Lingayat saint Basavanna espoused. Basavanna, who rebelled against the caste system to lay the foundation of the Lingayat faith system, an amalgamation of all castes, used the words meaning ‘he is a part of me’ to say all people are one.
Under the new law, crimes committed in the name of ‘honour’, including murder, assault, threats, and social boycott, are specifically addressed with stringent punishments. ‘Honour killing’ offences carry a minimum imprisonment of five years, while serious assaults attract at least three years in jail.
The new law defines the social boycott of inter-caste couples as forcible eviction to remote corners of villages, refusal to provide services, refusal to provide work, refusal to conduct business, denial of loans and admissions to schools, and makes it punishable.
In the case of ‘honour killings’ per se, the new law prescribes a minimum imprisonment of five years, and in the case of assaults, a prison term that is not less than three years for serious injury and two years for minor injuries.
The offences under the proposed law are cognisable and non-bailable, which means police can carry out arrests without court permissions after taking up a case.
The legislation follows several reported inter-caste relationship-related killings in Karnataka in 2025, including cases in Raichur and another involving 18-year-old Kavita.
The law to protect the freedom of choice in marriages is among several social bills that the Congress government has brought out in line with its policies for the backward and downtrodden communities in the state.
