BENGALURU: The state BJP unit on Saturday filed a complaint with Malleswaram police against Urban Development Minister Roshan Baig, who had allegedly abused Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“Roshan Baig, being a minister of the state of Karnataka, has crossed all limits of decency and has not behaved up to the standards of a constitutional functionary. He is liable to be prosecuted as his actions are calculated to demean and destroy the reputation of the Prime Minister of India,’’ stated the complaint filed by BJP MLAs B N Vijaykumar, C N Ashwathanarayan, City unit president P N Sadashiva and other leaders of the party. “The defamatory statement by Baig is intended to harm, destroy and injure the reputation of the Prime Minister,’’ the complaint said.
A police officer at Malleswaram police station said the complaint will be forward to Pulikeshi Nagar police station as the speech was made at a party function in that locality on October 3.
Baig had allegedly abused the PM while addressing a gathering of Congress workers in Pulakeshi Nagar. After a video of his speech went viral on Friday, the state BJP leaders demanded the chief minister to sack Baig from the ministry. On Saturday, BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa urged CM Siddaramaiah to drop Baig from the ministry. “How can he continue in the ministry?’’ the former CM questioned.
BJP MLC Lehar Singh Siroya said it is very unfortunate that a minister had spoken disparagingly about the PM. “Besides attacking the Prime Minister, Baig has also unnecessarily singled out the Marwari and Gujarati communities in his diatribe. As I belong to the minority Marwari community from Rajasthan, I wish to tell my fellow legislator friend that we are dutiful citizens of this country and have never been captive voters of any single party. We have chosen our leaders carefully and have voted in accordance with national interest,’’ he said. Lehar Singh urged Baig to apologise to the Prime Minister and the two communities.
‘Have heard worse from BJP’
AICC member in charge of Karnataka, K Venugopal, said he had heard worse from BJP. “I am speaking on behalf of the AICC. BJP leaders comment more than this. I have heard them use far worse words than what Roshan Baig used. But the use of such words is not right,” he admitted.