Bengaluru: BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal courted controversy inviting condemnation following his comment on Karnataka Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao's household while insinuating that Rao's household is "half Pakistani" due to his wife's Muslim identity. It has stirred a political storm in the Congress-ruled state.
Tabassum Rao, Dinesh Gundu Rao's wife, responded strongly to Yatnal's remarks, lodging a complaint with Sanjay Nagar Police Station in Bengaluru on Sunday.
Speaking to reporters following the filing of the complaint, she clarified that she is not involved in politics and expressed her lack of familiarity with Yatnal. Tabassum emphasised her engagement in social work beyond religious boundaries, indicating her commitment to broader community welfare.
She also questioned the appropriateness of Yatnal's comments, particularly targeting someone's family, which she views as outside the realm of acceptable political discourse.
Tabassum characterised Yatnal's politics as divisive, suggesting that such tactics distract from substantive issues like development, which she believes should be the focus of election campaigns.
"I am not in politics, I don't even know who Basavanagowda Patil Yatnal is. I am involved in social work beyond religion. However, he made such a statement on me. Is it BJP politics to talk about someone's wife and children? Yatnal's politics is divisive and BJP has no issues on development to fight the elections," she said.
Tabassum expressed her discomfort with being dragged into political discourse, particularly when it involves personal attacks based on her religious identity. She asserted that while it may be natural to discuss politicians like Dinesh Gundu Rao, bringing individuals' families and personal lives into the conversation is unwarranted.
Tabassum also expressed her frustration with what she perceives as the repeated targeting of Muslims in political discussions in India and flayed this trend as reflective of the BJP's political strategy, which she views as divisive and discriminatory.
She demanded an apology from Yatnal for his remarks, stating that she does not even know him or the reasons behind his comments. She appeared determined for a legal course to seek justice for the harm caused by his comments.
Taking to X, Tabassum highlighted the importance of maintaining ethical standards in public discourse, stating that her religious beliefs are a private matter and should not be exploited for political mudslinging.
She also called out Yatnal for unnecessarily dragging her name into the discussion and emphasised mutual respect and decency in public discourse.
"Yatnal has unnecessarily dragged my name in whatever he needed to tell my husband. We need to maintain ethical standards out of mutual respect and decency. They bring in a person’s religion which is their private matter," she said.
Yatnal's remark came in response to his reaction after the National Investigative Agency (NIA) summoned BJP leader Sai Prakash of Shivamogga, who was also a witness, in connection with the Rameshwaram bomb blast that occurred on March 1.
