Tejasvi Surya, BJP MP from Bengaluru South.

‘It is a huge injustice to a vibrant city known worldwide as a Tech & Intellectual Hub. Why is Tejasvi Surya tarnishing Bengaluru’s image? Does he have any proof to back his claim?’

NEW DELHI – Congress leadership in Karnataka is up in arms against BJP MP Tejaswi Surya for his controversial statement that Bengaluru has become a terror hub. Congress state President D.K. Shivakumar has demanded from the BJP to sack him from the post of its youth wing. “He is killing Bengaluru. It is a shame for the BJP,” he said.

Surya was named president of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) on Friday. The following day he told newsmen: “In last few years, Bengaluru, the Silicon Valley of India, has become the epicentre of terror activities. It has been proved through many arrests and sleeper terror cells busted by the investigative agency in the city”.

Surya also said that he has requested Union Home Minister Amit Shah to set up a permanent division of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in the city. Shah, according to him, has agreed to his demand.

Shivakumar condemned Surya through a Tweet: “BJP MP Tejasvi Surya calling Bengaluru, a global city known for Technology and Innovation, as an epicentre of terror is highly condemnable. GDP growth has crashed and with such statements, which investor will come to Bengaluru & Karnataka? Will PM and FM answer.”

Another leader Rajeev Gowda said, “I am deeply pained that a MP representing Bengaluru is denigrating Namma Ooru with baseless allegations. Such irresponsible statements impact people’s lives and besmirch our city’s reputation.” Gowda said, “To curry favour with your Boss, don’t unleash divisive agendas that disrupt our harmony.”

Srivatsa YB, national campaign in-charge for Indian Youth Congress tweeted, “Calling Bengaluru a Terror Hub is a huge injustice to a vibrant city known worldwide as a Tech & Intellectual Hub. Why is @Tejasvi_Surya tarnishing Bengaluru’s image? Does he have any proof to back his claim? To suit its politics, BJP is causing huge damage to B’luru & Karnataka”

Prathap Kanagal, JD(S) social media in-charge wrote, “Bengaluru was IT Hub for decades but As per @Tejasvi_Surya, in 6 years under Modi rule it become terrorism hub. Bengaluru was one of the safest cities across the globe all these years, but under Modi and Amit Shah even Bengaluru is in Danger just like Hindu in danger under Modi”

Surya has linked his claim to the violence that Bengaluru witnessed on August 11 following a blasphemous Facebook post. The violence, which claimed three lives and wounded over 50 people, was blamed on Muslims, whereas independent probe indicate that it was caused by police inaction. Nearly 400 people, mainly Muslims were arrested.

“In last few years, Bengaluru, the Silicon Valley of India, has become epicentre of terror activities. It has been proved through many arrests and sleeper terror cells busted by the investigative agency in the city,” said Surya, who represents Bengaluru South in Lok Sabha.

“It is a matter of grave concern that NIA investigations into the DJ Halli and KG Halli mob violence in August have indicated that many terrorist organisations are using Bengaluru as their incubation centre for carrying out anti-India activities,” he said.

Of late Surya has emerged as the poster boy of Hindutva politics. He makes controversial statements inciting hatred for Islam and Muslims. In April this year, his derogatory tweet from 2015 on Arab women resurfaced on social media, triggering severe backlash in Dubai and other Gulf cities. In the tweet, which was soon deleted, Surya cited controversial television personality and writer Tarek Fateh. “95% Arab women have never had an orgasm in the last few hundred years!” the BJP leader’s tweet read. “Every mother has produced kids as act of sex and not love.”

His current statement on Bengaluru, too, has outraged people across party line. His senior party colleague and Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa though has defended him by saying that “he just said in this sense that nowadays in Bangalore terrorist activities are increasing”, BJP insiders say that he is very unhappy that despite the party being in power, both in the state and the Centre, such comments have been made by Surya.

According to Newsminute news portal, many leaders in the party see Surya’s statement as an extension of the internal rift between some RSS leaders close to Surya and the BJP veteran in the state, Yediyurappa. Many in the Karnataka government too are aggrieved with the statement which they read as an attempt to get attention at the expense of the government’s image in the state.