Karnataka Congress Deploys Tit-For-Tat Tactics On BJP’s 'Karsevak Arrest Me’ Campaign

The Karnataka Congress on Friday took on the BJP's 'Karsevak' campaign by targeting the leaders from the saffron party over corruption and other issues.

The BJP leaders have started 'I am a Karsevak, arrest me' campaign over the arrest of a Hindu activist in connection with a 31-year-old case related to the Ram Janmabhoomi agitation.

Congress, in a post on social media, mocked the old scams referenced in the poster held by BJP leaders. The party shared a poster featuring Mysuru MP Pratap Simha, former minister KS Eshwarappa, V Sunil Kumar, BJP State President BY Vijayendra, and CT Ravi, countering their claims.

The Congress has targeted Simha over the recent Parliament security breach issue as his office had issued passes to the accused. It targeted CT Ravi over an accident involving his SUV where two people were killed in 2019.

Also, KS Eshwarappa was mocked over allegations of demanding a 40 per cent commission or bribe from contractors for every project when he was a minister. Santosh K Patil, a contractor who had made those allegations, died by suicide at a hotel in Udupi in 2022. This incident forced Eshwarppa to resign from his post.

Last week, Srikanth Poojari, a Karsevak, was arrested by the police in the north Karnataka city of Hubballi in connection with a rioting case registered in December 1992.

The BJP on Thursday launched the campaign as it stepped up its protests in several parts of the state over the recent arrest of the Hindu activist.

MLA and former minister V Sunil Kumar staged a sit-in demonstration near the Sadashivanagar police station, amid chants of "Jai Sri Ram" by BJP workers.

Holding a placard that read 'I'm also a Karsevak, Arrest Me Too', Kumar declared his participation in the Rama temple agitation in 1992, expressing his willingness to be arrested for it. Subsequently, the police took him into preventive custody.

In the district headquarters town of Shivamogga, senior BJP leader K S Eshwarappa, and in Chikkamagaluru, C T Ravi, led the protests.

The BJP has accused the Siddaramaiah government of displaying harsh treatment towards Hindus while allegedly engaging in minority appeasement. In response, the Congress has accused the BJP of politicizing the issue.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has labelled Poojari as a "social miscreant" and a "criminal suspect," citing allegations of his involvement in 16 anti-social activities, including illegal liquor sales, gambling, and matka.