Karnataka: BJP MLAs Chant 'Jai Shri Ram' In Assembly, Demand Arrest of Those Who Raised 'Pakistan Zindabad' Slogans

Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Karnataka Assembly R. Ashoka with party MLAs during a protest after pro-Pakistan slogans were allegedly raised by Congress workers following Congress leader Syed Naseer Hussain’s election to the Rajya Sabha (Image/PTI)

Amid the alleged ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ sloganeering row in the Karnataka Assembly, BJP MLAs on Thursday morning staged a protest in the Vidhana Soudha demanding action on the matter. BJP MLAs also raised slogans of “Jai Sri Ram” in the state assembly, to which Chief Minister Siddaramaiah responded with “Jai Sita Ram”.

A video went viral on the internet two days ago with claims that Congress supporters shouted “Pakistan zindabad” in the Karnataka assembly to celebrate the win of a party candidate Syed Naseer Hussain in the Rajya Sabha elections. The Congress, however, had denied the allegations saying supporters were cheering for Syed Naseer Hussain, and shouting “Naseer saab zindabad”.

The BJP MLAs, on Thursday morning, came down heavily on the ruling Congress government over its failure to arrest the supporters of Congress MP Syed Naseer Hussain allegedly involved in chanting pro-Pakistan slogans on the assembly premises.

According to a Hindustan Times report, the BJP MLAs shouted ‘Down down Congress government which is deciding nation, Spineless government is not capable to take action’, ‘We want justice, Arrest the culprit, Down down government’ — slogans in the state Assembly.

The Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Karnataka Assembly, R Ashoka, called for the arrest of those who chanted pro-Pakistan slogans.

Responding to the protest by the BJP, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah noted that the government has forwarded the audio recording to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL), and action will be taken once the report is received.

“As I have told you already the government is committed, we’ll not spare any person once the report comes. We have given it to FSL. We’ll take action once the report comes,” he said.

On the other hand, the Byadagi Police on Thursday stated it has arrested a trader and supporter of Syed Naseer Hussain, Mohmad Shafi Nashipudi in connection with the matter.

“A trader and supporter of Syed Naseer Hussain, Mohmad Shafi Nashipudi, detained by Byadagi town. Police collected his voice sample and took him to analyse the voice in the alleged pro-Pakistan slogan video. He was present in Vidhana Soudha with Syed Nasser Hussain in the celebration after the Rajya Sabha election victory,” police said, according to a Hindustan Times report.