Mangaluru: The Dakshina Kannada District Congress Committee staged a protest near the Mahatma Gandhi statue at Rajaji Park on Saturday, demanding the arrest of Udupi MLA Yashpal Suvarna over his alleged remarks against Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi. Congress leaders accused the BJP of promoting hate speech and called for legal action against the MLA.
Congress leaders demand arrest
Addressing the gathering, senior Congress leader Ramanath Rai alleged that while the Congress recognises and rewards leaders committed to public service, the BJP encourages those who indulge in hate speech.
He claimed that such an approach had enabled leaders like Yashpal Suvarna to receive election tickets and demanded that a criminal case be registered against the MLA for his alleged remarks against Rahul Gandhi.
Rai also called for Yashpal Suvarna’s immediate arrest and sought his disqualification from the Karnataka Legislative Assembly.
Remarks linked to NEET protest
Referring to Rahul Gandhi’s protest over the alleged NEET question paper leak, Ramanath Rai alleged that attempts had been made to portray the Congress leader as anti-national.
“In my opinion, those who failed to support the students protesting against the paper leak are the real anti-nationals,” he said while addressing the protesters.
The Congress maintained that raising issues concerning students and examination integrity should not be branded as anti-national.
M. G. Hegde criticises Prime Minister
Congress leader M. G. Hegde criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging that he had remained silent when women, including Sonia Gandhi and female relatives of several activists, were subjected to abusive and defamatory remarks on social media.
He questioned why the Prime Minister had reacted strongly to remarks directed at his own mother while, according to him, remaining silent over similar alleged attacks on women associated with the Congress and activists.
Effigy burned during protest
As part of the demonstration, Congress workers burned an effigy of Yashpal Suvarna on the road while raising slogans demanding legal action against the BJP MLA.
The protest remained focused on seeking police action over the MLA’s alleged remarks and urging authorities to initiate criminal proceedings.
Several Congress leaders participate
The protest witnessed the participation of several senior leaders and party workers.
Dakshina Kannada District Congress Committee president Harish Kumar, former MLA J. R. Lobo, Mithun Rai, Inayat Ali, Padmaraj Poojary, Shalet Pinto and Appi, among others, joined the demonstration and expressed solidarity with the party’s demand for action.
The Congress leaders reiterated that they would continue to press for legal action against the MLA through democratic means.