In what the Congress has dubbed an attempt to polarise the electorate in Karnataka, BJP National President Amit Shah on Tuesday claimed that 24-year-old Vidvat, who was attacked by Congress MLA NA Haris’s son Nalapad, is a BJP worker in a rally in Sulia, Dakshina Kannada.
The BJP president also claimed that there was no FIR against Nalapad – but the truth is that an FIR was registered on Sunday morning. Vidvat’s friends filed a complaint on Saturday night, and due to the delay in filing the FIR, the concerned inspector has been suspended.
Amit Shah further accused the Siddaramaiah government of appeasing Muslims in the instance, saying, “If Siddaramaiah thinks politics of appeasement will be successful, he's wrong. Appeasement and polarisation here reflects in example where son of MLA Haris thrashed a man but there was no FIR. Why? Not only becausee he's Haris's son, but because it involves appeasement of groups,” as quoted by ANI.
However, as the BJP’s R Ashoka – former Deputy CM of Karnataka – clarified that Amit Shah’s statement was wrong and said that Vidvat is not a BJP worker, and Nalapad is currently in police custody, reported News9. An attempt to murder (IPC 307) section has also been added to the FIR against Nalapad.
Amit Shah’s endorsement of wrong facts has drawn the ire of the Congress, with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah himself leading the attack against the BJP president.
Siddaramaiah in a tweet said, “The BJP says whoever has been killed or assaulted in Karnataka are its party workers. Will they now giving party posts to not just those who are alive, but also those who are dead?”
In a similar tweet, minister UT Khader said, “For the past three months, whoever is dying in the state, the BJP is claiming it is their worker. They are trying to divide the society in order to garner votes. They are trying to play politics over death.”
A similar situation had occured when the BJP leadership had claimed that 19-year-old Paresh Mesta, who died under mysterious circumstances in Honnavar, was a worker of their party.
This claim was later denied by Paresh’s father.
(This article has been published in an arrangement with The News Minute.)
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