Bengaluru: Irked by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's remarks against RSS leaders during unveiling of the statue of Mahatma Gandhi here on October 2, leaders of the state unit of BJP are contemplating filing a defamation case against him.
Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, president of the state unit of BJP Pralhad Joshi said: "it is not the first time that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah made such remarks against the RSS. Even during Lok Sabha elections, Mr. Siddaramaiah made similar remarks against the RSS and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. His remarks against RSS are derogatory in nature, so we are seriously thinking of filing a defamation case against him."
The party has decided to consult members of its legal cell about the pros and cons before filing such a case against the Chief Minister. Once legal cell approves the move, the party would file a case against the Chief Minister, said a senior leader.
The Chief Minister's remarks against RSS leaders came soon after RSS ideologue Chakravarthi Sulibele delivered a lecture on Mahatma Gandhi. While expressing displeasure against Mr. Sulibele for speaking on Mahatma Gandhi, Mr. Siddaramaiah had said "it is unfortunate on my part to hear RSS lecture on Gandhi when that organisation itself killed Gandhi".
Subsequently, BJP leaders criticized the Chief Minister for his remarks against RSS.
Former Union minister Veerappa Moily had later added a twist to the controversy saying Mr Siddaramaiah should have walked out of the programme at which a RSS funcitonary was present and was to deliver the main lecture.
The function was organised by legislative council chairman D.H. Shankaramurthy who has a RSS background His decision to invite Mr Sulibele had invited criticism.
