Union minister and BJP’s Bangalore North candidate Shobha Karandlaje has apologised for her outburst against Tamils, but remained mum on her vilification of people from Kerala and Delhi.
Her apology to the Tamil people followed some strong words from chief minister M.K. Stalin who sought legal action against her. Madurai police on Wednesday booked her for hate speech. The Election Commission of India has ordered action against her.
Shobha had on Tuesday blamed persons from Tamil Nadu, Delhi and Kerala for committing crimes in Karnataka.
“One man comes from Tamil Nadu and plants a bomb in a cafe. The second one comes from Delhi and raises ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ slogans inside Vidhana Soudha. The third man comes from Kerala and throws acid on college girls,” the BJP hardliner had said.
Madurai police registered an FIR against her under IPC Sections 153 (wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot), 153A (promoting enmity between different groups), 505 (1) (b) (statement intent to cause, or which is likely to cause, fear or alarm) and 505 (2) (statement promoting ill-will between classes).
Shobha’s comments were a reaction to an alleged assault on a shopkeeper by some Muslim youths.
While the BJP claimed that the youth was assaulted for playing the Hanuman Chalisa during the evening azaan from a nearby mosque on Sunday, the police have denied that.
The reference to Tamil Nadu was based on the March 1 bomb blast at The Rameshwaram Cafe in Whitefield that left nine injured. The police have yet to make any arrests in the case.
Three men, one of them from Delhi, were arrested for shouting “Pakistan Zindabad” during a victory celebration of Congress candidate Syed Naseer Hussain inside the Vidhana Soudha — the Karnataka seat of power — after last month’s Rajya Sabha elections.
The third incident is an acid attack by a Kerala-based MBA student who has been arrested. While he targeted a girl for spurning him, her friends also suffered burns.
In her apology on X, Shobha claimed her comments were not against Tamils.
“To my Tamil brothers & sisters, I wish to clarify that my words were meant to shine light, not cast shadows. Yet I see that my remarks brought pain to some — and for that, I apologise. My remarks were solely directed towards those trained in the Krishnagiri forest, linked to the Rameshwaram Cafe blast. To anyone from Tamil Nadu effected, From the depths of my heart, I ask your forgiveness. Furthermore, I retract my previous comments,” she wrote.
The EC has asked Karnataka’s chief electoral officer to take action on a complaint by Tamil Nadu’s ruling DMK against Shobha. The EC’s note to the CEO on Wednesday says: “You are directed that immediate appropriate action may be taken on the complaint in accordance with Model Code of Conduct.”
