Bengaluru, 10 November

Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge on Tuesday said the action of NSUI workers who sent knives and daggers to the residence of BJP leader Chalavadi Narayanaswamy was a reaction to the latter's alleged threat to chop Congress workers into pieces and throw them into the Arabian Sea.

He, however, said he was not endorsing the action of the NSUI workers, while questioning the remarks made by the Leader of Opposition in Legislative Council that had preceded the incident.

"He (Narayanaswamy) asked for it, didn't he? He made a statement saying that he would cut Congressmen into pieces and throw those pieces into the Arabian Sea. You would need tools for that, wouldn't you? If you are going to make such a threat, you would need knives to cut us up. So our Youth Congress workers have sent him knives to do the needful," Kharge told reporters.

"Although I am not saying that what they have done is correct, Narayanaswamy was the one who first spoke. That was the action, and this is the reaction," he said.

Accusing Narayanaswamy of "invoking" violence, Kharge said the BJP leader was the one who had spoken about committing murder and that the workers had responded by challenging him on how he intended to carry out the threat.

The BJP leaders on Saturday lodged a complaint with the Bengaluru Police Commissioner alleging that NSUI workers had attempted to send knives, daggers and other lethal objects to the residence of Narayanaswamy through a quick-commerce platform.

NSUI's action was in reaction to Narayanaswamy's recent warning to the Congress that BJP workers would "tear them to pieces and throw them into the Arabian Sea" if they created unrest in the country, party sources said.

He subsequently clarified that his remarks were directed at the Congress party and not at any individual, following protests by Congress workers.

Asked about possible police cases in connection with the incident, the minister said the law would take its course and asserted that Karnataka would not tolerate provocative statements without legal consequences.

"This is Karnataka, sir, not Uttar Pradesh. If you say whatever comes to your mind and think there will be no legal action, that may happen in Uttar Pradesh or Gujarat, but it cannot happen in Karnataka," he said.

To a question on action against those sending knives, he said, "A complaint is given, let's see. There is a complaint against Narayanaswamy too, let's come chronologically..."

On reported discussions regarding the revival of 'Tipu Jayanti' celebrations at the time of the birth anniversary of the 18th century ruler of the erstwhile Mysore Kingdom, Tipu Sultan, on November 10, and BJP's opposition to it, Kharge accused the party of "politicising" the issue and questioned its understanding of history.

"See, the BJP needs to get its history right. Tipu Sultan fought four Anglo-Mysore wars. The RSS did not even participate in the freedom struggle. They did not take part in the Civil Disobedience Movement, the Quit India Movement, the Dandi March or the Non-Cooperation Movement. They were not part of any of the Round Table Conferences. They did nothing, and now they are the ones dictating terms," he said.

The minister claimed that former Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa had earlier praised Tipu Sultan in a book, while in office.

"You cannot take away Tipu Sultan's contributions to the state. This is nothing but politics. When they want votes, they are pro-minority; when they don't, they behave like this," he said.

Asked whether the government would consider celebrating Tipu Jayanti again, Kharge said the decision rested with the government.

"That is a call the government will take. Whether you like it or not, he fought four Anglo-Mysore wars. It is a recorded fact that the British were extremely scared of Tipu Sultan. Nobody can change that fact, neither I nor the BJP," he said.

Highlighting Tipu Sultan's historical contributions, he referred to Lalbagh and Nandi Hills, saying the garden was established by Tipu's father, Hyder Ali, and further developed during Tipu Sultan's reign.

"Everybody praises Lalbagh. Who made Lalbagh? It was his father, Hyder Ali, and it was groomed by Tipu Sultan. Are you going to burn it away? Are you going to Nandi Hills? There is a fort there. Are you going to take that away? These are historical facts that cannot be erased. The BJP is not in the habit of reading the right history. They read whatever comes on WhatsApp University," he said.

On Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi's autobiography and the BJP's criticism of it, Kharge said an autobiography was an individual's account of their own experiences and views.

"Why are they so bothered? It is an autobiography. It is her thoughts, her story. If you have a problem with it, deal with it. I am telling you now that these people (BJP) are going to look at it through a very bad lens. They will give it a communal colour and find fault with it. For the next one month, they will talk only about this. They have nothing else," he said.

"It is her view. I cannot write my autobiography based on the BJP's views. These are my thoughts and my views, and I will put them forward. If you have a problem with that, deal with it. That is your problem, not mine," he told BJP.