Firebrand Hindutva leader and Bijapur City MLA Basangouda Patil Yatnal, infamous for his provocative statements, has come out with another communal and inflammatory statement, offering a cash reward of Rs 5 lakh to Hindu boys who would marry Muslim girls.
According to media reports, Yatnal, who was expelled from the BJP, may also launch a campaign in this regard.
Speaking to reporters in Karnataka’s Koppal after consoling the family members of a youth belonging to the Valmiki community, who was allegedly killed by members of the Muslim community on August 3 over his affair with a Muslim girl, the BJP MLA said the youth was attacked in front of a mosque by a gang with sharp weapons.
“But nobody rushed to prevent the attack. In love jihad cases, the government gives protection to the minorities,” Deccan Herald quoted Yatnal as saying.
Yatnal, who once asked corporators not to work for the welfare of the Muslims and only work for Hindus, alleged that the Congress government in Karnataka is favouring the Muslim community and said he will raise this issue in the state legislature.
The slain youth has been identified as Gavisiddappa Nayak. Police have arrested a few people in connection with the murder.
Yatnal, a leader from the dominant Lingayat community, was expelled from the BJP for six years for defiantly criticising former BJP chief minister and a Lingayat icon B.S. Yediyurappa and his son, B.Y. Vijayendra. He repeatedly called their dominance in the party as “dynasty politics”. Following his ouster from the saffron party, there were rumours that he was planning to launch his own political outfit.