Surjewala condemns Pratap Simha’s remark against Chief Minister

Randeep Singh Surjewala, AICC general secretary in-charge of Karnataka, on Saturday (April 4) condemned Pratap Simha, BJP leader and former MP, over the latter’s “vile remark” against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in Bagalkot, saying it once again exposes the BJP’s “despicable politics”.

Mr. Simha had allegedly made some intemperate and communal remarks aimed at the Chief Minister in the course of the bypoll campaign.

Stating that Mr. Simha’s outburst against the Chief Minister stemmed from desperation, Mr. Surjewala alleged that the BJP was “deliberately using a former MP to insult the Chief Minister and send a message to backward classes, Scheduled Castes (SCs), and minorities that they were inferior and subjugated”. Such conduct, he said, reflects a “complete bankruptcy of ideas, ethics, and leadership” within the party.

In a post on X, Mr. Surjewala said, “This is the same Pratap Simha who, in the past, repeatedly referred to the elected Karnataka government as a ‘Taliban government’ at the behest of the BJP leadership at the Centre.”

Accusing BJP leaders of being habitual offenders in spreading “poisonous” discourse, he said the party’s frustration over the Davangere South and Bagalkot Assembly bypolls stems from public rejection and the prospect of imminent defeat on April 9.

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

Meanwhile, despite the BJP leadership expelling its MLA, Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, for six years, he has continued campaigning for the party in Bagalkot, Mr. Surjewala said.