Bengaluru, In a move that has stirred political tensions, Indian police arrested a BJP worker in Karnataka for allegedly shouting a pro-Pakistan slogan during a protest organized by the party in 2022. The arrest comes amidst recent detentions related to similar accusations within the state assembly.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the individual apprehended has been identified as Ravi, hailing from Dhanayakapura. This development followed the Bengaluru Police’s arrest of three men for purportedly voicing pro-Pakistan slogans in the state Assembly on February 27, subsequent to Congress MP Syed Nasir Hussain’s election to the Rajya Sabha.
Mandya district’s Senior Superintendent of Police, Yetish, detailed that Ravi’s arrest was based on a first information report filed by Congress worker Kannambadi Kumar regarding the December 2022 protest. Ravi is slated for a court appearance, with authorities continuing to pursue other individuals named in the report.
The BJP’s protest, which led to the controversial incident, was held at Sanjay Circle in Mandya on December 22, 2022. It was a response to comments made by former Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Media outlets have circulated a video from the protest purportedly showing Ravi chanting “Pakistan Zindabad,” despite attempts by another attendee to prevent him from doing so.
Reacting to Ravi’s arrest, BJP Mandya district chief Indresh NS decried the move as politically motivated, asserting the slogan was the result of confusion during the demonstration against Pakistan. He questioned the rationale behind accusing BJP workers of pro-Pakistan sentiments, especially in light of the protest’s intent and recent criticisms directed at Congress for the slogans aired in the Assembly on February 27.