UDUPI, KARNATAKA — Police in Karnataka’s coastal city of Udupi have registered a case against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Yashpal Suvarna for allegedly making derogatory and inflammatory remarks against Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, during a political demonstration.
The legal action follows an official complaint filed by Udupi District Congress Committee President Ashok Kodavoor at the Udupi Town Police Station. The complaint asserts that Suvarna delivered an abusive speech near the local Service Bus Stand on Tuesday that breached public decency and threatened communal harmony.
According to police officials, the complaint alleges that the BJP lawmaker used abusive language directed at students protesting against irregularities and paper leak issues in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET). Furthermore, the Congress leadership accused Suvarna of attempting to incite BJP cadre against Congress supporters.
Law enforcement authorities confirmed that the First Information Report (FIR) was registered under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) dealing with promoting enmity between groups, criminal intimidation, provoking riots, and making statements conducive to public mischief. An active investigation is currently underway.
Congress Demands Strict Legal Action
Reacting to the incident, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) Working President and MLC Manjunatha Bhandary stated that the state administration has viewed the remarks with utmost seriousness and will pursue full legal remedies.
Bhandary announced plans to meet with key state authorities to ensure a comprehensive investigation.
"Targeting those who raised their voice against the NEET paper leak issue through personal abuse, hate speech, and intimidation reflects the BJP's anti-student mindset," Bhandary stated. "Political differences cannot be answered with threats in a democracy."
The Congress leader also criticized fellow BJP legislators present during the rally for remaining silent, alleging that their inaction amounted to tacit approval of the remarks. Congress representatives confirmed they have gathered video recordings of the speech to submit to police authorities as part of the evidence.
