Karnataka MLA Munirathna’s arrest: Congress counters BJP’s ‘vendetta politics’ claim with Vokkaliga card

Congress former MP D K Suresh says Munirathna’s slurs on women and the Vokkaliga community are unacceptable.

BJP MLA Munirathna has been arrested in a case in which he is accused of verbally abusing, threatening and hitting a contractor. (File photo)

Karnataka Congress leader and former MP D K Suresh has thrown the Vokkaliga caste card to counter the Opposition’s allegations of “vendetta politics” over the arrest of BJP MLA Munirathna in a case in which he is accused of verbally abusing, threatening and hitting a contractor.

Cheluvaraju, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike contractor on whose complaint the MLA was arrested on Saturday, had met Chief Minister Siddaramaiah over the issue. An audio clip of Munirathna purportedly hurling expletives at the contractor was also leaked to the media.

Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Suresh said that slurs allegedly made by Munirathna on women and the Vokkaliga community were unacceptable, adding that BJP leaders should clarify whether their party would approve such behaviour towards women and communities. “How would you have reacted if a Congress leader had made such remarks?” he asked.

Soon after Munirathna’s arrest, Union minister Pralhad Joshi alleged a political vendetta. “The audio is old. Though I don’t justify the comments purportedly made by him, arresting him in haste was not right,” he said.

Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka claimed the entire episode was planned. “Munirathna would not have run away. His arrest was pre-planned. Home Minister (G Parameshwara) had planned his arrest,” the BJP leader said.

According to Ashoka, the MLA was arrested on Saturday evening because courts were on leave for three days and that his release on bail would therefore be delayed. “They had decided to keep him in jail even before his arrest,” he said.

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