Karnataka: BJP's CT Ravi courts "Nehru Hookah Bar" controversy, Cong hits back

Bengaluru: Days after minister KS Eshwarappa courted controversy by his remarks, BJP general secretary CT Ravi on Thursday added more controversy when he asked the Congress to open a "Nehru Hookah Bar" in the Congress office.

"What is the issue in keeping the names of canteens, either Annapoorneshwari or Indira Gandhi? After all, the purpose here is to serve food to the poor people ... If so, let them open a "Nehru Bar", a "Nehru Hookah Bar" in the Congress office. Let them open it. Who is stopping them," he told reporters.

Ravi was replying to questions on the raging controversy over the changing of the name of Indira canteens. The BJP leaders have been suggesting changing the names of Indira canteens to Annapoorneshwari canteen.

Ravi said there is no politics in naming canteens after Annapoorneshwari. "If I would have proposed the name of Raja Mata Vijayaraje Scindia instead of Indira Gandhi's, that would have amounted to politics. But, Annapoorneshwari is the name of the Goddess. The Goddess of food. So, what is the issue here," he argued.

Hitting back at Ravi's remarks, Leader of the Opposition in state assembly Siddaramaiah lashed out at Ravi for making such comments on Pandit Nehru who had fought for India's independence.

"I will not make light of Vajpayee and Advani, but who is this Ravi. Did he fight for the Indian Independence? Whereas, Nehru and his whole family had sacrificed their lives for the country. Why did Rajiv Gandhi die? Why did Indira Gandhi die? It is a pity that Ravi does not know the country's history. He must understand he should not speak lightly of someone who had fought for the country's independence," he said.

Siddaramaiah also challenged Ravi to answer why the stadiums in Gujarat and Delhi have been named after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Arun Jaitley, respectively.

KPCC President DK Shivakumar said the entire BJP's leadership is no match to the sacrifices made by the Nehru family.

Former minister Ramalinga Reddy said running hookah bars and mowing down people due to drunken driving is the culture of the BJP.

The BJP is not worthy of mentioning Indira Gandhi's name who had liberated Bangladesh, Reddy said. On the contrary, Ravi has not contributed anything to the country and the state. "Instead, he has made efforts to make Annamalai as Tamil Nadu BJP President who is now protesting against the state's water resources project," he said. (UNI)