Union minister apologises after outrage over 'Tamil people plant bomb in Bengaluru' remarks

Union minister apologises after outrage over ‘Tamil people plant bomb in Bengaluru’ remarks

Facing outrage over her ‘Tamil Nadu people plant bomb in Bengaluru remarks, Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje has issued an apology and clarified that her words were directed towards those who trained in the Krishnagiri forest.

“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 apologize. My remarks were solely directed towards those trained in the Krishnagiri forest, linked to the Rameshwaram Cafe blast. To anyone from Tamil Nadu affected, From the depths of my heart, I ask your forgiveness. Furthermore, I retract my previous comments,” Karandlaje, who is also BJP Bengaluru North candidate, said in a post on ‘X’.

Karandlaje had made the controversial statement during a protest in Bengaluru following an altercation between a group of people and a shopkeeper over playing ‘Hanuman Chalisa’ during ‘Azaan’ time.

“People from Tamil Nadu come here, get trained there and plant bombs here. They placed a bomb in the cafe,” she has said.

Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin took strong exception to the remarks made by the Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare and sought legal action against her.

“One must either be an NIA official or closely linked to the Rameshwaram Cafe blast to make such claims. Clearly, she lacks the authority for such assertions. Tamilians and Kannadigas alike will reject this divisive rhetoric of BJP,” Stalin said.

“I also urge for an appropriate legal action against Shobha for causing threat to peace, harmony and national unity. From the Prime Minister to cadre, everyone in the BJP should stop engaging in this dirty divisive politics at once,” Stalin said, adding the “ECI must take note of this hate speech and initiate stringent action immediately.”.

Notably, the National Investigation Agency (NIA), which is probing the Bengaluru cafe blast case, is yet to reveal the identity of the suspect.