Removal of Muslim flag creates tension in Bengaluru

Tension prevailed in Viratnagar in Bommanahalli after BBMP corporator C R Ramamohan Raju removed a flag hoisted on a house while campaigning for BJP candidate Tejasvi Surya in south Bengaluru.

During campaigning on Monday, Raju noticed a green flag with a crescent moon and a star on the first-floor house of Syed Sharif. Mistaking it to be a Pakistan flag, Raju removed it and berated Sharif's mother, Shahjahan Begum, asking her to hoist a green coloured flag instead of a “Pakistan flag”.

When Sharif's mother tried convincing Raju that it was their community flag and not a Pakistan flag, her pleas fell on deaf ears. Meanwhile, Raju’s supporters started chanting “Bharat Mata Ki Jai" and "Vande Mataram” and applauded the act.

A few of his supporters shot a video of the incident and posted it on social media, which went viral on Tuesday.

Later, Begum brought the issue to the notice of local Muslim leaders, who condemned it following which BJP workers returned the flag to Begum. Sharif alleged that BJP supporters had visited his house on Tuesday morning when he was not present and took the signature of his mother on an empty bond paper.

Reacting to the news, SS Nakuk, election official from Bengaluru south, said they are aware of the viral video. Nakuk said they would be taking up a suo-motu case over the incident.

Meanwhile, Shariff along with Muslim leaders has sought an apology from Raju.