K’taka Cong chief’s remark triggers row

Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) working president Dinesh Gundu Rao’s controversial statement on Saturday triggered major controversy ahead of May 12 Assembly polls in Karnataka. 

Addressing party workers in his constituency in Bengaluru allegedly he has asked people  to beat up Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath with ‘chappals’ (slippers). Gundu rao reportedly made the remark at an event organised by the Congress to condemn the Kathua and Unnao rape incidents and demand justice for the victims.

The entire BJP blasted Gundu rao and sought apology from him for the remarks.  Dinesh Gundu Rao  is the working president of the Congress and was elected to 2013 Assembly from Gandhinagar constituency in  Bengaluru city.

According to reports he made the statement while describing the incidents that happened in Jammu & Kashmir — where the BJP is in power with the PDP — and in Uttar Pradesh as horrific, Rao said that Adityanath is “unfit to be the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh” and demanded his resignation.

Rao then reportedly told the people in Kannada that Adityanath should be “beaten with chappals” should the UP CM ever visit Karnataka again. He also used his twitter handle and said “termed UP CM as “Bhogi Adityanath.”

He said in his twitter  “UP CM Adityanath has totally failed his people.

A victim of rape found no justice, she lost her father due to inhuman treatment by UP Govt & the CM who calls himself Yogi was trying to protect the accused BJP MLA. It’s not #RamRajya but #RavanRajya under #BhogiAdityanath,” he wrote. He had also demanded the PM Narendra Modi to sack UP CM Yogi.

The BJP was quick to protest against his remarks and decided to launch state wide agitation.

Sate BJP President and Lingayat strongman BS Yeddyurappa called the remark disrespectful of a saint from the Nath community and demanded an apology from the Congress.

He said in his twitter handle, “Dinesh Gundu Rao’s choice of words to address Yogi Adityanath ji has appalled me. Utter disrespect to a CM & a revered Natha family saint. The millions of Natha Panth followers of Karnataka will never forgive this.

I sympathise with you and your party’s culture. #apologisetoYogi.” he wrote on Twitter while sharing the video in which Rao is seen making the remark.

In Karnataka vokkaligas (Gowdas) , one of the dominant communities follow Natha Pantha and it has become an election issue.

BJP spokesperson S Prakash wanted Gundu Rao to be arrested  and it is against violation of election code and conduct.

Meanwhile Dinesh Gundu Rao has apologised for his remarks and said it was an emotional issue for him. He said “I regret the words used against him.”