Karnataka High Court pulls up BJP’s Yatnal over remarks against Dinesh Gundu Rao: ‘What is the meaning of half-Pakistani?’
Allegedly alluding to the inter-faith marriage of Minister Gundu Rao, Yatnal had stated, “There is a Pakistan in Gundu Rao’s house, so it’s his habit to give anti-national statements.”
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The war of words was between BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal (right) and Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao. (Photos: X)The Karnataka High Court on Thursday pulled up BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal over his “half-Pakistani” remark against Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao.
A single judge bench of Justice M Nagaprasanna made the observation while hearing a petition by Yatnal to quash the proceedings against him for his alleged anti-Muslim remark against Rao and his family.
Yatnal made the alleged personal remark against minister Gundu Rao in April in response to his post about a BJP leader who was detained and questioned by the National Investigation Agency in connection with the Rameshwaram Cafe blast case.
Allegedly alluding to the inter-faith marriage of Gundu Rao, Yatnal had stated, “There is a Pakistan in Gundu Rao’s house, so it’s his habit to give anti-national statements.”
The bench stated, “What is the meaning of half-Pakistan? Why do you want to say that? You cannot dub a particular community to be that. This is not the way.” The judge added, “Every case I have been saying…. what is the use of mudslinging each other? Just because someone’s wife is Muslim can you dub that half-Pakistani?”
Senior advocate C V Nagesh, representing Yatnal, argued that there were certain issues with the order taking cognizance of the case. The bench stated, “We will direct the court to re-do the (cognizance) exercise…while taking cognizance the accused has to be heard.”
A week prior, Justice Nagaprasanna had orally made remarks lamenting the fact that politicians were increasingly making personal remarks about each other rather than arguing on policies.
The police had booked Yatnal based on the complaint of Gundu Rao’s wife Tabu Rao. “He (Yatnal) said Dinesh Gundu Rao’s house is ‘half Pakistan’. They (BJP) talk of Bharat Mata but can’t respect women. I don’t have any problem if he speaks about Dinesh as he is in politics. I don’t like being dragged into this and I am fed up with being targeted for my Muslim roots,” Tabu Rao had said.
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