‘Bomb blast, Pakistan Zindabad slogans, attack on shopkeepers…’: Tejaswi Surya slams Siddaramaiah govt

BENGALURU: Hitting out at the Congress government in Karnataka over the law and order situation in the state, Bharatiya Janata Party MP Tejaswi Surya said on Tuesday that one must wonder as to why nefarious elements who want to create disharmony in society feel emboldened whenever the grand old party comes to power.

Tejasvi Surya, who represents Bangalore South in Lok Sabha, joined the protest in Bengaluru following an altercation between a group of people and a shopkeeper during ‘Azaan’ time on Sunday, March 17, near Siddanna Layout.

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Speaking to reporters, Tejaswi Surya said, “The government speaks of building brand Bengaluru. I want to ask the CM and the Deputy CM. You speak of building a brand in Bengaluru. How can you do so in this kind of law-and order situation? What happened to Mukesh yesterday could happen to any person sitting and going to his business honestly in a calm, unprovoked manner anywhere in the city.”

Referring to the recent incidents of the blast in Rameshwaram cafe, and the alleged raising of ‘Pakistan Zindabad slogans’ in Karnataka Vidhan Soudha, Tejaswi questioned the Karnataka government, “What message is this government trying to give?”

“Two weeks ago, there was a bomb blast. A week before that, there were Pakistan Zindabad slogans. And today you have these unprovoked attacks on shopkeepers. What message is this government trying to give?” BJP MP said.

“Why is it that whenever the Congress party comes to power, elements like these who want to create disturbance and disharmony in society feel emboldened? And why is it that cabinet ministers like Dinesh Gundu Rao come in defence of the accused and do not stand up for the victim’s justice?” he added.

On the remarks made by Congress leaders over the politicisation of the issue, BJP MP Surya said that the Karnataka government is defending the indefensible in this matter.

“The government, instead of trying to give him swift justice, is trying to defend those who have perpetrated this crime only because it suits its vote bank. Who is doing politics here? We are asking the police to act in a professional manner, in an unbiased manner, in an impartial manner. This is our demand. What is politics in this? This is not the first time that this government and its ministers have come out in defence of the indefensible,” he said.

Earlier today, the shopkeeper involved in the altercation expressed gratitude for the support received.

“In the incident that happened on Sunday, who would have been responsible if I had died in the incident. I feel happy that so many people have come in support of me,” the shopkeeper said.

BJP MP Tejaswi Surya has urged the Bengaluru City Commissioner to investigate the incident in an unbiased and professional manner.

Meanwhile, the Bengaluru Police said that an FIR has been registered at Halasuru Gate Police Limit, and the police are working to arrest the accused.

The police said that further investigation was underway. (ANI)