Clarion India
NEW DELHI — BJP leader and former Karnataka minister K S Eshwarappa on Monday asserted that the saffron party didn’t need Muslim votes in Shivamogga city in the upcoming Karnataka Assembly elections scheduled on May 10, and went on to say that nationalist Muslims would vote for the party anyway.
According to reports Eshwarappa said this while addressing a gathering of Veerashaiva – Lingayat community near former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa’s residence at Vinoba Nagar in Shivamogga on April 24.
He said, “Let us interact with people of all castes and enquire about the benefits they enjoyed during the BJP rule. Every community has benefited. There are around 60,000 Muslims in the city. We don’t want their votes. Of course, there are Muslims, who received our help individually whenever they were in need and who would vote for us. Nationalist Muslims will definitely vote for the BJP.
“Under BJP rule, Hindus were safe. Nobody dared attack Hindus. There is a feeling among the public that they would not be as secure if any non-BJP government came to power.”
The BJP leader went on to heap praise on party veteran B S Yediyurappa, saying, “Yediyurappa is a model leader for Hindus, including Lingayats. He is a true Hindu and party candidate Channabasappa is a leader who can build the Hindu community in the city.”
Former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa appealed to Veerashaiva – Lingayats to support the BJP candidate, and ensure his victory with the highest margin. “The Congress insulted the Lingayat community by removing Veerendra Patil unceremoniously from the post of Chief Minister. We should not forget it,” he said.
