Members of Bharatiya Janata Party in Karnataka have risen in protest against the chief minister’s media advisor Dinesh Amin Mattu for his remarks on the Indian Army and its soldiers.
Mattu said that people join the Army more out of poverty than for patriotism.
“I gave a speech on February 26 at a function in Udupi about the deteriorating folk culture in the state. However, the speech sort of deviated into poverty. How artists have remained poor all their lives.”
“Isn’t it apparent? Today, most folk artists are poor and stick to the art. Only the ones who do research on the arts really get any recognition. So in that context I said that with due respect to their patriotism, most of the people join the defence because they are poor,” Mattu said.
“That is the hypocrisy, the people want them to stay poor so that we stay safe or we stay entertained,” he said.
BJP MLA, CT Ravi tweeted saying that Mattu should be sacked for insulting the Indian soldiers. He accused the media advisor of downgrading the Army by saying that they just want to earn a living without serving the motherland.
Media Advisor of Karnataka CM says that Indians join the Army to earn a Living & not to serve the Motherland #Shame pic.twitter.com/uLhKsUCB0q
— C.T.Ravi (@CTRavi_BJP) February 28, 2016
CM's Media Advisor has stooped to such a Low Level that he is tarnishing India's Brave Soldiers who sacrificed their Lives for the Nation
— C.T.Ravi (@CTRavi_BJP) February 28, 2016
I demand @CMofKarnataka to sack his Media Advisor who has insulted India's Brave Soldiers. Such shameless people are fit to be in Jail only
— C.T.Ravi (@CTRavi_BJP) February 28, 2016
However, this is not the first time BJP has protested against Mattu. In January 2016, Mattu was in the eye of a storm for sympathising with the ISIS, after its members were caught from across India.
Mattu refuted BJP’s allegations saying that they were always known for twisting words out of context.
After the Siachen tragedy in February, The Hindu reported that many youngsters from backward districts in north Karnataka wanted to join the Indian army.
However, this is not the first time that the BJP has protested against Mattu. In January 2016, Mattu was in the eye of a storm for sympathising with the ISIS after some of its members were caught from across India.