‘Strict Action If Found Guilty’: Siddaramaiah Says Forensics Examining ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ Video Amid BJP Protests

Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday said strict action will be taken if anyone is found guilty over BJP allegations that supporters of Congress leader Syed Naseer Hussain raised pro-Pakistan slogans inside the Vidhana Soudha as he won the Rajya Sabha elections a day before. “We have sent the video to forensics, if found guilty strict action will be taken,” Siddaramaiah said, as BJP leaders started a protest march to the Vidhana Soudha.

State home minister G Parmeshwara also said such slogans will not be tolerated, and the video has been given to the forensic team for investigation while an FIR has been registered in the matter. On Tuesday (February 27), the BJP alleged that Congress workers shouted “Pakistan zindabad” slogans inside the Karnataka assembly to celebrate Hussain’s win in the Rajya Sabha elections.

The BJP MLAs walked to the Vidhana Soudha holding the national flag and raised slogans against the Congress government. They said the BJP and JD(S) will raise this issue in the assembly session and meet the governor as well.

On the complaint filed by the Karnataka BJP against Hussain and his supporters, union minister Prahlad Joshi said: “Today, after the victory of Naseer Hussain in Rajya Sabha election from Congress party in the Vidhana Soudha, pro-Pakistani slogans have been raised by the Congress party workers. Instead of condemning this, Naseer Hussain is trying to mislead and say that somebody is spreading false news, which is more dangerous. Congress party when it was in power, used to hobnob with Pakistan. Now they are directly supporting Pakistan. So I strongly condemn this and I ask Rahul Gandhi what is his take on this. I asked Mallikarjun Kharge what is his take on this? Because Naseer Hussain is the ‘shishya’ (disciple) of Mallikarjun Kharge. Let them clarify, let them condemn it. I also urge the home minister of Karnataka to take note of the seriousness of this and take very serious and stringent action on this. Otherwise, the BJP will definitely go on agitation throughout Karnataka.”

The ruling Congress has rejected the charge and maintained that supporters were cheering for Hussain, one of the three victorious Congress candidates, and were shouting “Naseer saab zindabad”. A senior police source, too, said the slogan prima facie sounded like “Naseer saab zindabad”.

“This is the BJP’s standard operating procedure; it’s very clear that they are saying ‘Naseer saab zindabad’. Let’s wait for FSL report. Where is JNU, where is that tukde tukde audio thing now?” said Congress MLA Priyank Kharge.

“We have obtained the video and are analysing it,” Bengaluru police commissioner B Dayananda told News18. The incident took place soon after a media conference addressed by deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar.