'Separate nation' row: FIR against former Karnataka Dy CM Eshwarappa for his 'shoot the trailor' statement

Bengaluru: A FIR has been filed against veteran BJP leader and former Deputy Chief Minister KS Eshwarappa for calling Karnataka Congress leaders DK Suresh and Vinay Kulkarni as traitors and requesting Prime Minister Narendra Moth to make a law to shoot them down.

"DK Suresh and Vinay Kulkarni are traitors. Jinnah's descendants talk about the partition of the country. Those who divide the country should not be left alone. They should be shot and killed.

"I request Prime Minister Narendra Moth to bring the law in this regard," Eshwarappa had said during the swearing-in ceremony of the new Karnataka BJP president and office-bearers in Davangere district.

Davangere police have filed the case against the former Deputy Chief Minister of the state on a complaint by Hanumanta, a resident of Davangere. He demanded legal action against him for making inflammatory speech to create unrest in society and to worsen law and order.

The veteran BJP leader has been booked under ections 505 (1) C, 505 (2), and 5o6 R of IPC. Home Minister Dr G Parameshwar confirmed it.

Many Congress leaders, including Ministers Priyank Kharge and Ramalinga Reddy, launched a tirade against Eshwarappa. Another Minister HK Patil too flayed Eshwarappa and warned him to apologize within 24 hours.

Suresh, who is the brother of Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, had raked up a controversy by giving a 'separatist' remark while accusing the central government of the devolution of funds to southern states, including Karnataka.

"The Centre is not properly giving the right share of GST and direct taxes to South Indian states. The South Indian states are facing injustice. The money collected from southern states is being given to North Indian states. If this continues, we will be forced to demand a separate country," he told reporters.

The BJP lapped up the issue and accused Suresh for his separatist remarks.