Union minister in trouble; ECI seeks report from CEO
Kanwar Inder Singh/ royalpatiala.in News/ March 20,2024
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has sought a detailed report from Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) over the BJP senior leader and Union Minister of State (Agriculture) Shobha Karandlaje’s statement while taking to reporters against the ‘people of Tamil Nadu’.
While speaking to media persons during a protest against the Siddana Layout skirmish in which a shopkeeper was allegedly beaten up on March 17, Karandlaje mentioned,“People from Tamil Nadu come here, get trained there and plant bombs here. They placed a bomb in a cafe.”
Later she apologized for her statement ans said ” To my Tamil brothers & sisters, I wish to clarify that my words were meant to shine light, not cast shadows. Yet I see that my remarks brought pain to some – and for that, I apologize. My remarks were solely directed towards those trained in the Krishnagiri forest, linked to the Rameshwaram Cafe blast. To anyone from Tamilnadu effected, From the depths of my heart, I ask your forgiveness. Furthermore, I retract my previous comments.”
Stalin condemned the statements made by the Union Minister. Later MK Stalin-led Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) has filed a complaint with the Election Commission of India (ECI) over Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje’s statement, blaming ‘people of Tamil Nadu’ for the Rameshwaram Cafe blast that took place in Bengaluru on March 1. The TN chief minister urged the ECI to take note of this hate speech and initiate stringent action.
Union minister in trouble; ECI seeks report from CEO. The party has now filed a complaint with the election commission, adding that the statement was in violation of the MCC (Model Code of Conduct), and was made to spread enmity between Kannadigas and the people of Tamil Nadu.