Karnataka Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy triggered off a controversy on Friday after he compared members of the BJP with terrorist group ISIS.
Speaking to PTI, Reddy said, "I never called all the BJP leaders terrorists. I said only a few BJP leaders are behaving like ISIS. I am the first person to condemn ISI, ISIS and Jihadis. These (BJP) leaders are trying to foment communal passion in the state by giving provocative statements. My statement was basically against these two leaders who are trying to disturb peace in the state."
However, the BJP hit back at Reddy, alleging that Kanataka has become a "hub for jihadi activities" due to such 'mindsets' who are in power, and governing the state.
He also lashed out against Union Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Ananthkumar Hegde and BJP Lok Sabha member from Mysuru-Kodagu Prathap Simha.
While an FIR was registered against the former BJP leader, after he called Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah a ‘bootlicker’, during a Parivartana Yatra rally in Belagavi, the latter was arrested before Hanuman Jayanti celebrations in Hunsuru last week, with police stating that he was attempting to disrupt peace.
This also comes soon after another senior Congress leader, Mani Shankar Aiyar, triggered a massive controversy, calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi a "neech aadmi".
In a damage-control move, the Congress on Thursday night suspended him from its primary membership and slapped a show cause notice on him for his remark.
"If any damage has been done to Congress because of what I said, then I am saddened. I am ready to accept any punishment that the Congress party wants to give me. I did not have any such intention" Aiyar told reporters.
IANS inputs