Key Takeaways
- BJP leader R Ashoka accused the Congress government in Karnataka of shielding anti-national elements and curbing Hindu voices.
- The Congress government was criticized for its silence when ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ was shouted in the Assembly.
- The FIRs against Sangh leaders are part of a larger debate over nationalism, freedom of religion, and selective action.
Bengaluru: Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly R Ashoka on Tuesday launched a blistering attack on the Congress government in Karnataka, accusing it of shielding anti-national elements while targeting Hindu voices under the guise of curbing hate speech.
Reacting sharply to the FIRs registered against BJP MLC Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, Legislative Council chief whip N Ravikumar, and RSS ideologue Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat, Ashoka questioned the Congress government’s silence during an earlier Assembly incident.
“The Congress government was criticized for its silence when ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ was shouted in the Assembly. ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ is a phrase that was used in the Assembly, and the Congress government was accused of not taking action against it.” Ashoka thundered. “The Congress government was criticized for its silence when Indian jawans were laying down their lives at the borders in Operation Sindhoor. Meanwhile, some individuals were running social media campaigns in favour of Pakistan. But you rush to book FIRs against Hindu leaders,” Ashoka said.
Calling the Congress government one “without a shred of dignity or responsibility,” the former minister alleged that law and order in Karnataka had collapsed under Siddaramaiah’s leadership.
Ashoka also charged the Congress with selectively persecuting Hindus. “If someone says ‘Pakistan Zindabad’, they are free to roam. But if I say ‘I am a Hindu’, you look at me with contempt. You need Hindu votes to win, you need Hindus to form the government, but suddenly we are not wanted anymore?” he said.
Ashoka’s remarks are expected to escalate the political confrontation in Karnataka, especially with Congress already facing flak over its recent moves to rein in right-wing rhetoric. With the BJP turning the debate into one over nationalism, freedom of religion, and selective action, the heat is set to rise both in the streets and inside the Assembly.
