Karnataka BJP chief ministerial candidate BS Yeddyurappa found himself in the middle of a controversy on Saturday, 5 May, after he asked people to ensure everybody who wasn’t voting were made to do so by ‘tying their hands and legs up and made to vote.’
Yeddyurappa made the comments while speaking at a rally in Belagavi for BJP candidate from Kittur, Mahantesh Doddagoudar.
If you think that somebody isn’t voting, go to their homes, tie up their hands and legs and bring them to vote in favour of Mahantesh Doddagoudar.BS Yeddyurappa
The Congress immediately attacked Yeddyurappa for his comment, with spokesperson Randeep Surjewala tweeting:
Meanwhile, Yeddyurappa too took to Twitter to clarify his statement, in response to Karnataka Congress’s tweet which questioned if he was ‘threatening’ the voters.
Tweeting in Kannada, Yeddyuappa said:
According to NDTV, the tweet translated to:
I belong to a farmer-village background. This is how we villagers speak. It is not apparent to some people.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi lashed out at the Congress for their criticism against the BJP candidate, alleging that the ‘insult would be avenged.’
Addressing an election rally in Yeddyurappa's home district Shivamoggga, Modi said political differences and rivalry may exist, allegations and counter-allegations made, but restraint must be exercised while speaking.
(With inputs from PTI)
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