‘Pro- Pakistan’ slogans shouted, says Parameshwara

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Marking a significant shift in the Cong ress State government’s stand, Home Minister G Parameshwara said that “Pakistan Zindabad” (Long Live Pakistan) slogans were indeed shouted at the Vidhana Soudha on February 27.

It was the principal Opposition BJP that had initially alleged that the slogans had been raised, reportedly by Congress workers, after party candidate Naseer Hussain got re-elected to the Rajya Sabha.

Some in the Congress had initially suggested that the slogans raised had been “Nasser Sahab Zindabad” (Long Live Naseer).

However, since then Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has ordered an investigation, including a Forensics Science Laboratory (FSL) report on the same.

As many as three arrests have been made in the case. BJP had released its own private FSL report on Monday, claiming that “Pakistan Zindabad” slogans were indeed raised on the occasion.

Congress had promptly filed a case against the BJP on the very same day, alleging that the FSL report being cited by them was fake.

However, less than 24 hours after the complaint was filed, Parameshwara told mediapersons at the Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru on Tuesday that two people had indeed shouted the slogans as per the FSL report but it was yet to be determined as to who had uttered the words.

“Pakistan Zindabad. Twice, that individual, whoever has shouted. That has been confirmed. Based on that, FSL has not said who has said it. They’ve just said that it has been confirmed and there is no intervention of any kind. It’s a straightforward, continuous video that they have examined. They have confirmed that there was a shouting like Pakistan Zindabad. Based on that, we have identified three persons, who were very close (to the slogan shouting) and looking at the lip movement and so on. The police has arrested three people,” he said.

However, the Home Minister refused to confirm that the accused persons were Congress workers.

“No. There are Congress sympathizers, Congress workers, Congress office bearers. We don’t know anything. Let the police investigate. Now, that the case has been registered, they’ve been arrested and produced before the magistrate, the investigation will go on. What comes out of the investigation, I cannot say right now,” he added.

Congress camp divided over issue

Meanwhile, Deputy CM DK Shivakumar said that some of his Cabinet colleagues claiming that no one had shouted “Pakistan Zindabad” slogans was a personal opinion.

“They have expressed their opinion. There is a possibility that the video may be tampered with. The police investigation will reveal the truth. The police have taken some suspects into custody. Voice samples need to be collected for the investigation. The police will investigate the incident in which a BJP party worker raised pro-Pakistan slogans,” he said, referring to a 2022 video of saffron party functionary Ravi raising the “Pakistan Zindabad” slogan.

“The Home Minister has already given a statement regarding this. The Rajya Sabha MP too has already asked for stringent action against the culprits,” he said.