Team Clarion
BENGALURU — An FIR has been registered against former Union Minister Basanagouda Patil Yatnal following a complaint against him for making hate speech to disturb peace and communal harmony in society.
Based on the complaint by Municipal Council member Parashuram Baburao Hosamani, the Gandhi Chowk Station Police in Vijayapura have filed the FIR.
The FIR pertains to a speech delivered by Yatnal in Vijayapura on Friday wherein he blasted the Karnataka government alleging that it was heavily biased toward Muslims.
Addressing the media later, Yatnal demanded Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s resignation, claiming that the latter should have returned a disputed site linked to Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan’s Waqf property the moment it came to light.
“The government seems to be at the mercy of Muslims,” Yatnal said.
“They claim 16,000 acres in Vijayapura alone and 6.5 lakh acres across Karnataka. If this continues, how much more land will be claimed across the country?” he asked expressing outrage over the state government’s handling of the situation, stating that the government seems to be at the mercy of Muslims.
Yatnal further said that if such land concessions continue, “there will be two Pakistans in the country.” He further criticised the demands for land and resources, suggesting that even the Vidhana Soudha and a new parliament might be asked for next.
Delving into history, Yatnal called the Mughals “thieves” and claimed that Afghan invaders and converts such as Tipu Sultan and Adil Shahi had no place in India’s history.
“Our history is rooted in figures like Lord Rama and the Pandavas, not in those who forced conversions,” he said as he further accused figures like Tipu Sultan, Adil Shahi, and Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan of being a part of the legacy of forced conversions in India.
Yatnal did not spare Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi and the country’s first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru for the current state of affairs in the country, alleging that their policies contributed to its downfall.
