"Your drama of sitting on streets is understood by sensible Kannadigas": Dinesh Gundu Rao on BJP MPs protest over 'Azaan' row

Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], March 19 : Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao on Tuesday slammed the BJP MPs for protesting in Bengaluru over the 'Azaan row' and said that sensible Kannadigas will understand the intentions of BJP leaders who want to secure their vote bank by creating unrest in society.
Two BJP MPs, Tejasvi Surya and Shobha Karandlaje, who is also the Union Minister, joined the protests in Bengaluru following an altercation between a group of people and a shopkeeper during 'Azaan' time on Sunday, March 17, near Siddanna Layout.
In a post on X, Karnataka Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao said, "Shame on you. When you were in power, Kannadigas were treated unfairly and now that there are elections, your drama of sitting on the streets and protesting is understood by sensible Kannadigas."
Dinesh Gundu Rao also mentioned that BJP MPs should have expressed a similar outrage over the tax devolution policies and the "unfair distribution of taxes to Karnataka by the Centre."
"Finally, BJP MPs Shobha Karandlaje and Tejaswi Surya are protesting on the streets. But what is the purpose of this protest? Our government will take strict action against those who disturb the peace of society. Where did this anger and protest go when the state was wronged by the Centre? Why did they not get this outrage when our people were reeling from drought and cried for help from the Centre?" Karnataka Minister said.
"Why didn't these MPs get outraged when the distribution of taxes to our state was unfair? Why didn't his blood boil when the river was treated unfairly?" he added.
Meanwhile, hitting out at the Congress government in Karnataka over the law and order situation in the state, Bharatiya Janata Party MP Tejaswi Surya said on Tuesday that one must wonder as to why nefarious elements who want to create disharmony in society feel emboldened whenever the grand old party comes to power.
Speaking to reporters, Tejaswi Surya said, "The government speaks of building brand Bengaluru. I want to ask the CM and the Deputy CM. You speak of building a brand in Bengaluru. How can you do so in this kind of law-and-order situation? What happened to Mukesh yesterday could happen to any person sitting and going to his business honestly in a calm, unprovoked manner anywhere in the city."
Referring to the recent incidents of the blast in Rameshwaram cafe, and the alleged raising of 'Pakistan Zindabad slogans' in Karnataka Vidhan Soudha, Tejaswi questioned the Karnataka government, "What message is this government trying to give?"
"Two weeks ago, there was a bomb blast. A week before that, there were Pakistan Zindabad slogans. And today you have these unprovoked attacks on shopkeepers. What message is this government trying to give?" BJP MP said.
Earlier today, the shopkeeper involved in the altercation expressed gratitude for the support received.
"In the incident that happened on Sunday, who would have been responsible if I had died in the incident? I feel happy that so many people have come in support of me," the shopkeeper said.
Meanwhile, the Bengaluru Police said that an FIR has been registered at Halasuru Gate Police Limit, and the police are working to arrest the accused.