BJP leader likens K'taka minister Khader to a terrorist, he slams comment

Karnataka Minister for Food and Civil Supplies UT Khader reacted sharply to BJP State General Secretary N Ravikumar’s comment that he and Dakshina Kannada district in-charge minister Ramanath Rai were ‘no less than terrorists’.

Ravikumar had made the remark while speaking at the BJP Law and Parliamentary Affairs Cell’s state committee meeting on Saturday.  “Just looking at the ministers from the coastal district gives you a clue about the place. According to me, the ministers in coastal Karnataka – Ramanath Rai and UT Khader – are no less than any terrorist,” he had said.

The comment elicited a response from UT Khader. “We don’t take these comments seriously. With elections around the corner, leaders will say anything to gain attention. The people of this district know who we are and what we have done,” said Khader.

He claimed that the BJP is desperate to get back to power in the state and were making baseless allegations to gain attention. “For the sake of power, BJP will even endorse terrorists. It is even seen supporting extremists in Assam, Nagaland and Tripura. The party has allied with Bodoland People’s Front in Assam, National Democratic Front in Nagaland,” he said.

He also claimed that the BJP is hatching a political conspiracy to come back to power in the state. “This is their political strategy to make comments like this and try to polarize people. We should not give importance to this,” he said.

He cautioned his party members to not get provoked by BJP leaders and respond to baseless allegations. “The BJP should check themselves from making provocative baseless allegations keeping the state’s unity and peace in mind,” he added.

In the eight assembly constituencies in Dakshina Kannada, Congress won seven seats in 2013 polls wresting three seats away from the BJP. Karnataka is set to go to polls later this year with both the Congress and the BJP organising massive public rallies in order to gain power in the state.