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Act on Shobha's remarks targeting Tamilians: EC

NT Correspondent

New Delhi: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Wednesday directed the Karnataka chief electoral officer to take immediate and appropriate action on the DMK's complaint about alleged model code violation by Union minister and BJP leader Shobha Karandlaje.

The directive assumes importance as Ms Karandlaje has been named by the BJP as the party candidate for the Bengaluru North parliamentary constituency.

The poll panel also sought a compliance report on the matter within 48 hours. The ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in Tamil Nadu has sought action against Karandlaje for 'alleging that a person from Tamil Nadu was responsible for the IED blast at the Rameshwaram Cafe in Bengaluru on March 1.'

In its complaint to the Election Commission earlier in the day, the DMK said that the minister's statement generalised the people of Tamil Nadu as "extremists".

During a protest in Bengaluru on Tuesday on the 'Hanuman Chalisa' chanting incident, Ms Karandlaje had said that "law and order in Karnataka has deteriorated.

People who come from Tamil Nadu plant bombs here, people from Delhi chant 'Pakistan Zindabad' slogans and people who come from Kerala were involved in acid attacks."

She later apologised for her remarks and said she was retracting her comments. Meanwhile, in Kerala, the ruling Left and the Opposition UDF voiced strong condemnation against the alleged "hate remarks" made by the Union Minister towards the people of the state.

The two fronts have accused the Karnataka leader of attempting to destroy religious harmony through such statements.

Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the State Assembly, V D Satheesan, has demanded an apology from the Union Minister, while senior Left leader and CPI state secretary Binoy Viswom has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address the hate remarks made by the BJP leader.

The people of Kerala are anxiously awaiting Prime Minister Modi's response, as he frequently visits the state, conducts roadshows, and makes unsubstantiated promises to the people," Viswam said.

In his statement, Satheesan urged Karandlaje to publicly apologise for her comments directed at people of Kerala.

TN police book minister for 'promoting enmity'

The Madurai Police on Wednesday booked BJP leader and Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje for "promoting enmity" between different groups, following her claims that people from Tamil Nadu plant bombs in Karnataka, remarks which had drawn criticism from Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin.

The BJP leader had apologised for the remarks and announced retracting them.