Yatnal Warns Congress of Bengal-Like Rout Over ‘Appeasement Politics’
Speaking to reporters on Friday after being detained and later released by police near Darbar College in Vijayapura city.
Vijayapura: Accusing the Congress government of pursuing anti-Hindu policies, Yatnal warned that if such policies continued, the party would face a fate similar to that of the Trinamool Congress in West Bengal and could be routed in Karnataka in the 2028 Assembly elections.
Speaking to reporters on Friday after being detained and later released by police near Darbar College in Vijayapura city, where he had gone to distribute saffron shawls to students as a mark of protest against the government's decision allowing Hijab in education institutions, Yatnal demanded that if hijab is permitted in educational institutions, saffron shawls should also be allowed. He questioned the government's decision to permit hijab while the issue was still before the court.
"This state and this country are governed by the Constitution framed by Dr BR Ambedkar, not by the Constitution of Rahul Gandhi or Sonia Gandhi. We will not tolerate Muslim appeasement. If Hindu protests, RSS and VHP activities, or Hindu festivals are obstructed, we will not remain silent. If this continues, it could lead to unrest in the state. We are prepared to go to jail if necessary," he said.
He said schools and colleges follow a uniform system as a symbol of discipline and equality. However, he alleged that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, in the final phase of his tenure, had allowed hijab in educational institutions despite the matter being before the courts, with the intention of appeasing Muslims.
Yatnal said the agitation against the Karnataka government's decision to allow hijab in educational institutions would continue until the order is withdrawn. He also called upon Hindu students to voluntarily wear saffron shawls to schools and colleges and said he and his supporters were prepared to go to jail if necessary.
“We had told earlier that Hindu children should wear saffron shawl and wear tilak while they go to school and say ‘Jai Sri Ram,’ and ‘Jai Bheem,’ while addressing teachers,” he added.
The MLA also criticised the police action against protesters and alleged that he and his supporters were taken into custody even before they peacefully distributed saffron shawls.
“It was with the objective of pressing for the withdrawal of the government's order that we decided to distribute saffron shawls to students. We were holding a democratic protest. Even before we could get down from our vehicle, the police detained us and treated us like criminals," he alleged.
Accusing the state government of misusing the police machinery to suppress dissent, Yatnal said the agitation would continue across Karnataka and warned that the BJP and pro-Hindu organisations would intensify their protests if the order was not revoked.
Protesters raised slogans against the police for preventing the distribution of saffron shawls to college students and detaining the organisers. They also accused the Congress government of attempting to suppress Hindu protests through the police machinery in the name of Muslim appeasement.
