"Won't tolerate disrespect": DK Suresh attacks BJP MLA Muniratna over his alleged casteist remark

Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], September 20 : Congress leader and former MP DK Suresh slammed BJP MLA Muniratna, who allegedly hurled casteist slurs on the Vokkaliga community and its women, emphasising that while the BJP may tolerate Muniratna's behaviour, the Congress party will not stand for disrespect towards women and marginalised communities.
"Vokkaliga is not indebted to anyone; we cannot bear to talk about our daughters. The BJP can tolerate Muniratna but we will not tolerate the insult of women," Suresh said.
When asked about the BJP leader's defence in Muniratna's audio case and Okkaliga leaders meeting the Deputy Chief Minister, he said, "I will go to that meeting. We will discuss how to fight against his statement in the future for the benefit of our society. If we leave this issue here, someone else will speak tomorrow."
"I know various people of different castes and religions. I have never heard such words. If you justify it, there is more misfortune than this. Shame on them for justifying this. Let there be a united society; the entire women's clan has been insulted," he added.
Answering about the BJP leader's statement that there was political hatred against Muniratna, he said, "They also know that this is Muniratna's voice. He only talks like an owl sitting in Congress. Ashok's friends will tell him what kind of words he has used about him. They may be hiding these issues because they are in their party. At once, society is observing all this. There is no one in their debt. They are in debt to each other."
Meanwhile, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President GC Chandrasekhar said that MLA Munirathna is unfit to be a people's representative.
"If the people voted for the development and the constituency and sent them to win, MLA Munirathna, who has behaved shamelessly, is unfit to be a people's representative", he said.
"Munirathna Naidu has put the internal words of the BJP outside. His action is condemnable, as he has spoken very badly about Scheduled members, especially women. No one can tolerate his words," Chandrasekhar added.
He further demanded Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah to intervene into the matter.
"PM Modi and Amit Shah should speak about this incident and proper investigation should be done against such rogues and perverts," he said.
Chief Whip of Vidhan Parishad Salim Ahmed also hit the BJP over the incident and said, "BJP leaders, if you have any dignity, sack Muniratna from the party immediately. Otherwise, we have to say that the BJP is against Dalit and Okkaliga communities."
"BJP should teach its party legislators a lesson for this demonic act. If the BJP does this, people will have some respect for that party. The Congress government has taken strict action against Muniratna and we request the government to take more action against him," he added.
Meanwhile, a case of alleged sexual harassment has been registered against Munirathna and six others in the Ramnagar district of Karnataka. The case was registered at Kaggalipura police station in the Ramnagar district on Wednesday night.
As per the complaint, the incident happened at a private resort under the limits of Kaggalipura police station.
Munirathna is currently in the custody of Bengaluru police for allegedly threatening a contractor.
Munirathna was taken into custody on September 14 night by Bengaluru police for allegedly threatening a Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) contractor.
An audio clip had also gone viral, allegedly featuring Munirathna using abusive language and threatening a Dalit person, the contractor, and his wife.