Karnataka: BJP leader Yatnal demands arrest of Cong MLC Hariprasad for 'possibility of Godhra-like incident' remark

BK Hariprasad had said a Godhra-like situation can be created in Karnataka also. The state government should be on high alert to prevent any untoward incident.

Published on: Jan 4, 2024, 09:06:08 IST

ANIPosted by Yamini C S

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

BJP leader Basanagouda Patil Yatnal on Wednesday slammed Congress MLC BK Hariprasad for his statement that there is a possibility of a 'Godhra-like incident' in Karnataka and demanded his arrest for instigating a "riot for the Lok Sabha elections".

BJP leader Basanagouda Patil Yatnal. (HT)

"This man (Hariprasad) should be arrested and interrogated; has the Congress party hatched such a conspiracy against Ram devotees? It is clear that the Congress party is trying to create a riot for the Lok Sabha elections," Yatnal posted on X.

READ | Ram temple inauguration in Ayodhya is a political event: Karnataka Congress MLC BK Hariprasad

BK Hariprasad had told reporters that a Godhra-like situation can be created in Karnataka also. The state government should be on high alert to prevent any untoward incident. The government should provide all the arrangements for the people who wish to go to Ayodhya for the Ram Temple consecration ceremony on January 22, he said.

"The fundamental duty of any government is to protect the lives and property of its people. When you go back to the history of the BJP, when there was Godra and Pulwama, a lot of disturbance and lives were lost. The BJP is a habitual offender and it can do anything. In Ayodhya, it is not a religious programme but a political program. CMs of MP, Rajasthan are 'kar sewaks'...This is my personal statement, not the party's," MLC BK Hariprasad told ANI.

READ | Amid kar sevak arrest row, BJP shares video of Siddaramaiah refusing to enter temple

The BJP leaders, however, slammed the MLC for his comment. Hariprasad's comments also came amid the tussle between Congress and the BJP over the arrest of a kar sevak in Hubballi.

The kar sevak, Srikanth Poojari was arrested recently for his alleged involvement in violence after the Babri masjid demolition in 1992. The arrest was made in a long-pending case and the police said that it was a routine process to trace accused persons in such cases.

READ | BJP protests arrest in post-Babri riots case; Karnataka CM justifies action

However, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday attacked the Bharatiya Janata Party for "politicising" the arrest of a kar sevak (volunteer) in Hubballi and said that his government will not indulge in politics of hatred.

"Don't we need to punish those who have done wrong? Are they (BJP) protesting saying that they shouldn't be punished?" Siddaramaiah asked while speaking to reporters at his Home Office Krishna here.

The kar sevak, Srikanth Poojari, was arrested recently for his alleged involvement in violence after the Babri masjid demolition in 1992. The arrest was made in a long-pending case and the police said that it was a routine process to trace accused persons in such cases.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yamini C S
Yamini CS is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times with nearly six years of experience in digital journalism. She is part of the India News desk, where she works on a wide range of stories cutting across civic issues, city-based developments, politics, governance, public policy, breaking news, trending topics, and international affairs that have an impact on India. Her role involves tracking fast-moving developments, verifying information from official and on-ground sources, and presenting news in a clear, accessible format for a digital-first audience. A significant part of her work includes handling live blogs during major news events, such as elections, court verdicts, political developments, civic disruptions, protests, weather-related alerts, and unfolding national or international incidents. Through live coverage, she focuses on timely updates to help readers follow complex stories as they evolve. Before moving to the broader India News desk, Yamini was associated with the Bengaluru desk at Hindustan Times, where she extensively covered urban governance, infrastructure, traffic and transport issues, weather events, public grievances, and civic administration in the city. This experience strengthened her grounding in city reporting and sharpened her focus on citizen-centric journalism. She began her career as a correspondent with Reuters after completing a postgraduate diploma in journalism from the Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media. Her early training instilled a strong emphasis on accuracy, sourcing, and news ethics, which continue to shape her reporting style. Outside of work, Yamini enjoys reading across genres, listening to music, and spending time with her family, which help her maintain balance in a fast-paced newsroom environment.Read More

Get the latest City News, local updates, weather alerts and breaking stories from Bengaluru, Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad and other major cities across India on Hindustan Times.