Vijayapura: “I strongly believe that among all the BJP leaders of the district, MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal has eaten the highest quantity of meat including beef at the houses of Muslims when he was in JD (S), but today he is spewing venom against Muslims for his cheap political gains,” said Social Activist M. C. Mulla.
Addressing mediapersons on Saturday March 4 against the recent remarks of Yatnal against Muslims during Shivaji Jayanti programme, Mulla claimed that Yatnal has eaten meat including beef in the houses of Muslims when he was in JD (S). “Since Yatnal wanted votes of Muslims, he not only ate Biryani at the house of Muslims but also offered Namaz with Muslims at the Masjid during festivals such as Eid. Today the same person is talking ill about Muslims,” he said.
“Since he is known for giving bogus statements, I have decided to give him a new name called ‘Bogus Yatnal’ instead of Basanagouda Yatnal,” Mulla said. He said that Yatnal is giving anti-Muslim statements only to gain political mileage by dividing votes in the coming Assembly elections.
“Yatnal knows well that he cannot win election on the basis of development, therefore he has resorted to a communal agenda by spewing venom against the Muslims,” Mulla said.
Wondering why the Police and the District Administration is not taking any action against the Yatnal for his open hate speeches, Mulla reminded the police about the Supreme Court order on hate speeches.
“The Apex Court which took serious objection to the increasing hate speeches in the country, has directed the police to file a suo moto case against hate mongers without waiting for people to file complaints. When such is the clear direction by the Supreme Court, then we don’t understand why the police have remained mum. On the contrary, the police provide heavy protection to Yatnal during his public speeches. It gives a clear sense that the police are indirectly supporting Yatnal,” he said.
He cautioned that the Police and the District Administration would be held responsible if any communal incident took place in the City because of the hate speeches of Yatnal. He said that if the police fail to file a case against Yatnal within a couple of days, then he would approach the Court to get it done.
Mahadev Ravaji, Fayaz Kaladagi and H. S. Kabade was present.
