What does BJP have to say about 'beheading' remark, asks Siddaramaiah

 Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday took on the BJP over one of its leaders’ threat to “behead” him if he dared consume beef in Shivamogga.

“They want to behead me and play football with my head. Should such statements be accepted? What does the BJP have to say,” asked Siddaramaiah, replying to queries from reporters on the sidelines of an event in Bengaluru.

Late on Monday in Shivamogga, a local BJP leader S N Channabasappa had threatened to behead Siddaramaiah if he dared to eat beef. The BJP has already disowned Channabasappa. BJP State president Pralhad Joshi has issued him a warning and sought an explanation.

Siddaramaiah trained his guns on the BJP. “Their only agenda is to play the communal card to secure votes. They want to divide the society on communal lines. Dalit children are being burnt in BJP-ruled Haryana. We are not instigating them. Can such things be accepted,” Siddaramaiah demanded.

JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy demanded that the BJP and the Congress end the “charade” on beef consumption and focus on issues like farmers’ plight.

Attacking the BJP and its leaders for their take on beef, Kumaraswamy demanded that they impress upon Prime Minister Narendra Modi and stop beef exports worth Rs 26,000 crore annually.

Targeting Siddaramaiah, Kumaraswamy said it was not the “job” of the chief minister to discuss or debate on his food habits.

“More than 650 farmers have committed suicide in the State and the numbers continue to grow. Instead of debating eating beef and pork and the so-called growing intolerance, the chief minister should address the plight of farmers,” said the former chief minister.