Randeep Singh Surjewala, AICC general secretary in-charge of Karnataka, condemned BJP leader and former MP Pratap Simha’s alleged remarks against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in Bagalkot on April 4. He described them as exposing the BJP’s divisive politics. Surjewala demanded a public apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and state BJP leaders to Kannadigas.
Randeep Singh Surjewala, AICC general secretary in-charge of Karnataka, condemned Pratap Simha, BJP leader and former MP, on Saturday for his “vile remark” against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in Bagalkot. Surjewala said Simha made intemperate and communal remarks during the bypoll campaign. He alleged the outburst stemmed from desperation and that the BJP was using Simha to insult the chief minister and signal to backward classes, Scheduled Castes, and minorities that they are inferior and subjugated.
In a post on X, Surjewala noted that Simha had previously called the elected Karnataka government a “Taliban government” at the behest of the BJP’s central leadership. He attributed the BJP’s frustration to public rejection and the prospect of defeat in the Davangere South and Bagalkot Assembly bypolls on April 9. Such conduct reflects a “complete bankruptcy of ideas, ethics, and leadership” in the party, Surjewala said.
Surjewala demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and state BJP leaders issue a public apology to Kannadigas, particularly Other Backward Classes, Scheduled Castes, and minorities, for Simha’s “disparaging and intolerable” remarks. He also called for an FIR against Simha and strict action.
Meanwhile, despite the BJP expelling its MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal for six years, he has continued campaigning for the party in Bagalkot, Surjewala said.
