The DMK has also filed a complaint with the Election Commission of India (ECI) against Karandlaje for her alleged hate speech.
A case has been registered against Union minister Shobha Karandlaje by Madurai City Cyber Crime Police following a complaint against her controversial remarks that “Tamil Nadu people plant bombs in Bengaluru”.
Moreover, the ruling party in Tamil Nadu, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), has also filed a complaint with the Election Commission against Karandlaje for her alleged hate speech.
During a protest in Bengaluru following an altercation between a group of people and a shopkeeper over playing ‘Hanuman Chalisa’ during ‘Azaan’ time, the BJP leader had apparently blamed people form Tamil Nadu for the March 1 blast at Bengaluru’s Rameshwaram Cafe.
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Her remarks sparked massive outrage among people and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin slammed her for the “divisive rhetoric”.
“One must either be an NIA official or closely linked to the Rameshwaram Cafe blast to make such claims. Clearly, she lacks the authority for such assertions. Tamilians and Kannadigas alike will reject this divisive rhetoric of BJP,” Stalin said.
“I also urge for an appropriate legal action against Shobha for causing threat to peace, harmony and national unity. From the Prime Minister to cadre, everyone in the BJP should stop engaging in this dirty divisive politics at once,” Stalin said, adding the “ECI must take note of this hate speech and initiate stringent action immediately.”
Notably, the minister has issued an apology and clarified that her words were directed towards those who trained in the Krishnagiri forest.
“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 Tamil Nadu affected, From the depths of my heart, I ask your forgiveness. Furthermore, I retract my previous comments,” Karandlaje, who is also BJP Bengaluru North candidate, said in a post on ‘X’.
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