Dr Ashwath's remark on Siddaramaiah sparks stir

Congress leaders led by former minister and BTM Layout MLA Ramalinga Reddy took out a protest rally and urged Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot to dismiss the minister for his statement

Shyam Sundar Vattam| NT

Bengaluru: Higher Education Minister Dr CN Ashwath Narayana's (in pic) objectionable remarks against Leader of Opposition in the State Legislative Assembly Siddaramaiah at a public function in Ramanagar has come as a boon for the Congress, which is trying to provoke the ruling BJP party to add fuel to the controversy.

Recently, the higher education minister, in his bid to attack the Congress party for its pro-Tipu stand, said: "The way two persons brutally killed Tipu Sultan during a war in 1799, similarly, political leaders like Siddaramaiah who praise the Mysuru warrior king for taking on the mighty British army must be killed".

The crowd cheered and enjoyed his diatribe against Siddaramaiah for eulogising Tipu Sultan and starting the observation of Tipu Jayanti during his tenure, but the minister had stirred a hornet's nest. This issue would have vanished like other issues had Dr Narayana restricted his attack to Tipu Sultan and not extended his statement asking people to kill Tipu supporters like Siddaramaiah.

Within hours, the issue became a major controversy with Congressmen taking to the streets for his remarks on the Kuruba leader who has set his eyes on the CM gaddi for a second term. Cases have been filed against Dr Narayana in different parts of the State.

Congress leaders led by former minister and BTM Layout MLA Ramalinga Reddy took out a protest rally and urged Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot to dismiss the minister for his statement. The issue took a serious turn since the budget session is on and a lot of media attention has been set on the last session of the BJP government headed by Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai.

The Congress in general and Siddaramaiah in particular decided to milk the issue. Siddaramaiah started asking crowds in pre-poll rallies whether he should be killed just because he told the truth about Tipu Sultan. The crowds have been saying 'No' in unison.

Then the opposition leader urged the crowd to reject and dump the incumbent BJP government for spreading hate among people of the State. Lotus party steers clear BJP leaders have distanced themselves from Dr Narayana's damaging statement. A few saffron party MLAs have gone ahead to slam the minister.

The CM's Political Secretary and Honnali MLA MP Renukacharya, Devarahipparagi MLA AS Patil Nadahalli, Chikmagalur MLA CT Ravi opined that the minister should not speak in that manner that too against a senior politician and former CM Siddaramaiah. Ravi went to the extent of saying, "We have ideological differences with Siddaramaiah but share a warm friendship with him outside our political life. The BJP has problems with Tipu Sultan and not with Siddaramaiah".

Congress calls for bandh The Congress called for a ‘Honnalli bandh’ on Saturday against the BJP leader for his remarks against Siddaramaiah. The bandh, according to reliable information, was successful with most shops and business establishments remaining closed, some forcibly by Congress workers.

Though the minister tendered an apology over his remarks, the controversy is not going to die a quick death. Not until the upcoming State elections, because the Congress would want it that way