Bengaluru: Bengaluru South MP and newly appointed chief of the BJP’s youth wing, Tejasvi Surya once again drew ire over his comment about Bengaluru becoming an “epicentre of terror activities”.
The MP had made the comment during an interaction with the media on September 27, where he said that in the past few years, Bengaluru has become the “epicentre of terror activities”. “It has been proven through many arrests and sleeper terror cells busted by the investigative agency (NIA) in the city,” he added.
He also cited the recent violence in the city’s KJ Halli and DJ Halli areas as evidence, saying that it is concerning that the NIA’s investigations into the mob violence in August indicated that many terrorist organisations are “using Bengaluru as their incubation centre for anti-India activities”.
That same day, he tweeted, “In last few years, Bluru has become epicenter of terror activities, proven through many NIA arrests & busted sleeper cells in the city. I urged Hon HM Sri @AmitShah Ji to set up a permanent division of NIA in Bluru. I thank him for his assurance that it will be set up soon!”
In last few years, Bluru has become epicenter of terror activities, proven through many NIA arrests & busted sleeper cells in the city.
I urged Hon HM Sri @AmitShah Ji to set up a permanent division of NIA in Bluru
I thank him for his assurance that it will be set up soon! pic.twitter.com/ASxMuumtPr
— Tejasvi Surya (@Tejasvi_Surya) September 27, 2020
After the tweet, irked netizens pointed out to the young leader that the state, as well as the Centre, is ruled by the BJP and that they are also responsible for the continuation of the situation in Bengaluru.
The Congress party, on the other hand, has demanded that the BJP Yuva Morcha president be sacked.
Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee chief D K Shivakumar responded to the remark saying that the BJP should sack Surya as he is “killing Bengaluru”. “This is a shame for the BJP,” he said.
In a tweet, the Congress leader and MLA said, “BJP MP @Tejasvi_Surya calling Bengaluru, a global city known for Technology and Innovation, as an epicenter of terror is highly condemnable. GDP growth has crashed and with such statements, which investor will come to Bengaluru & Karnataka? Will PM and FM @nsitharaman answer?”
BJP MP @Tejasvi_Surya calling Bengaluru, a global city known for Technology and Innovation, as an epicenter of terror is highly condemnable.
GDP growth has crashed and with such statements, which investor will come to Bengaluru & Karnataka?
Will PM and FM @nsitharaman answer?
— DK Shivakumar (@DKShivakumar) September 28, 2020
Congress leader B K Hariprasad, who lost to Surya in the Lok Sabha polls, said he is just trying to please his masters and alleged that Surya’s statement casts aspersions on the Chief Minister.
“Wonder what Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa and Home Minister B Bommai have to say about their own MP Tejasvi Surya calling Bengaluru an epic centre of terror activities. Besides denting Bengaluru’s image as an investors destination this is also an indirect attack on Yediyurappa” he said.
Here are what some other Congress leaders had to say:
Namma Bengaluru a #terrorHub? Wth. I take offence to that. My city is beautiful, cosmopolitan, diverse, IT/BT Hub, safe, peaceful/silicon city.
I WILL NOT let a one guy tarnish the imagine of our city. Never. NO WAY. #proudofmycity
— Sowmya Reddy | ????? ?????? (@Sowmyareddyr) September 27, 2020
I am deeply pained that a MP representing Bengaluru is denigrating Namma Ooru with baseless allegations. Such irresponsible statements impact people’s lives & besmirch our city’s reputation.
To curry favour with your Boss, don’t unleash divisive agendas that disrupt our harmony.
— Rajeev Gowda (@rajeevgowda) September 28, 2020
Supporting MP Surya’s request for an NIA branch in the state capital, Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa said that he has been Prime Minister Narendra Modi for an NIA branch in the city for many years now. “I congratulate the PM and Home Minister for agreeing,” he added.
Responding to a query about his stance on the MP’s remark, the CM said that Surya said what he said as nowadays, terrorist activities are increasing in Bengaluru.
With inputs from IANS
