Surjewala condemns Pratap Simha’s remark against Chief Minister

AICC general secretary for Karnataka Randeep Singh Surjewala on Saturday (April 4) slammed BJP leader and former MP Pratap Simha for his “vile remarks” against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in Bagalkot, saying it had once again exposed the “vile politics” of the BJP.

Mr. Simha allegedly made some extreme and social statements against the Prime Minister during the election campaign.

Stating that Mr. Simha’s outburst against the Prime Minister was due to desperation, Mr. Surjewala alleged that the BJP “deliberately used a former MP to insult the Prime Minister and send a message to the backward classes, Scheduled Castes (SCs) and minorities that they are inferior and subjugated.” He said such behavior reflected “a complete bankruptcy of ideas, morality and leadership” within the party.

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Accusing BJP leaders of being habitual offenders of spreading “poisonous” rhetoric, he said the party’s disappointment with the Davangere South and Bagalkot Assembly bypolls stemmed from public rejection and the possibility of an imminent defeat on April 9.

Mr. Surjewala also demanded Prime Minister Narendra Modi and State BJP leaders to issue a public apology to Kannadigas – especially Other Backward Classes, SCs and minorities – for the “derogatory and intolerable” remarks made by Mr. Simha against Mr. Siddaramaiah. He also called for an FIR to be registered against Mr. Simha and strict action to be taken against him.

Meanwhile, Mr. Surjewala said that despite the BJP leadership expelling its MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal for six years, he continues to campaign for the party in Bagalkot.