Karnataka Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Gali Somashekhara Reddy on Friday issued a threat to those protesting the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register Citizens (NRC) saying, “If you want to live in this country, you have to live according to our customs.”
His statement comes after another Karnataka BJP leader CT Ravi warned protesters of a ‘Godhra-like’ situation saying that the “majority’s patience must not be tested.”
According to The News Minute, Reddy, who was making a speech at a pro-CAA rally in Bellary said, “I want to caution those who are protesting. This crowd is just 5%. If your antics grow, if 100% people come, just imagine what your situation will be. Bewakoofs from Congress are lying to you and you’re believing them and coming out onto the streets. Hey, we’re the 80%! You’re just 17%. If we turn against you what will your situation be?”
He continued, “Caution, tread with caution. This is our country. You have to live in our country. This is my country. My country. If you want to live in this country… the Australian Prime Minister had given a statement once. You know what she said? “If you want to stay in this country, you have to live as per our customs. Caution. If you don’t, I will send you back to your country.” Make sure that you don’t bring such a situation in this country.”
He was referring to a WhatsApp forward attributed to the former PM of Australia Julia Gillard which allegedly encouraged Muslims to leave the country. The message however was proved to be fake.
https://twitter.com/
“We are 80%, you are just 17%. Imagine what will happen to you if we fight back. Beware. You shud be mindful of this if you want to live in our country,” @BJP4Karnataka MLA Somashekhara Reddy warns Muslims over #CAAProtests in Ballari
@NewIndianXpress @santwana99 pic.twitter.com/4elE14ViIx
— Anusha Ravi Sood (@anusharavi10) January 3, 2020
Speaking to The News Minute he clarified his statement saying, “I have not stated anything against anybody. I just said we Hindus are 80% and if the 20% Muslim population damages our property, we cannot just stand by and watch.”
The Congress has lashed out against this statement by Reddy. VS Ugrappa, a former Congress MP told TNM, “This shows the mentality of the BJP and their leaders. These statements are inflammatory and are punishable under the Indian Penal Code and other provisions of law. These are targeted at the minorities and other weaker sections of the society. The concerned police should book him after taking suo motu cognisance. This is the duplicity of the BJP government. They booked UT Khader even though he did not make any provocative statement.”
UT Khader, member of the Congress and Cabinet Minister for Urban Development and Housing was booked for ‘inciting violence’ through his speech where he had said that if the CAA was implemented in Karnataka, there would come a day when the state would burn.
Soon at anti-CAA protests that took place in Karnataka, two protesters were gunned down in police firing in Mangaluru.
Reddy’s hateful threat is just another one in the long line of communally charged statements made by BJP ministers. Not just CT Ravi, even Kapil Mishra, another BJP minister and his followers at a pro-CAA rally in Delhi were heard chanting “shoot the traitors” a call directly targeted at anti-CAA-NRC protesters.
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