Karnataka BJP MLA Allegedly Makes Racist Remarks Against AICC President Kharge
BENGALURU: Former Home Minister and incumbent Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Araga Jnanendra on Wednesday allegedly made a racist remark against president of All India Congress Committee (AICC) Mallikarjun Kharge terming that the people of Kalyana Karnataka region (arid region) have ‘charred ashes appearance’ (dark complexion).
Araga Jnanendra represents Thirthahalli assembly seat in Shivamogga district covered with evergreen forests and Mallikarjun Kharge belongs to Kalaburagi in Kalyana Karnataka region having extreme hot conditions.
The BJP MLA took part in a protest against the reported implementation of Kasturirangan report on Western Ghats in his assembly constituency Thirthahalli and addressing the gathering, Araga Jnanendra said “It is unfortunate that Forest Ministers are from Kalyana Karnataka region including the present Minister for Forests (Eshwar Khandre) which is arid in nature. The people of the region do not have knowledge about trees nor have enough shade to cover themselves from the extreme hot conditions. By seeing (Mallikarjuna) Kharge we can get an idea that the people of (Kalyana Karnataka) have charred ashes (dark) complexion.”
Reacting to the remarks of the BJP MLA, Minister for Forests Eshwar Khandre stated that BJP followed the ‘apartheid’ policy of South Africa in the land of Mahatma Gandhi who fought against the ‘apartheid’ policy and termed the remarks of the BJP MLA ‘unfortunate.’
Eshwar Khandre said that the remarks of the BJP MLA is an ‘insult’ to the people of Kalyana Karnataka and the statements by the former Home Minister does not bring dignity to him.
The Minister for Forests also clarified that he never spoke on the implementation of the Kasturirangan report and his statements have been twisted and demanded an apology from Araga Jnanendra.
In a post on a social networking site, the Congress party criticized the BJP MLA for his remarks against Mallikarjuna Kharge and also against the people of Kalyana Karnataka and stated that BJP has indulged in low level politics.
