It's new low in politics, says CM Siddaramaiah on BJP barbs

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said on Wednesday that in his 40-year political career he had not seen politicians "stoop so low" in their speeches, referring to remarks made by BJP leaders during the saffron party's Suraksha Yatra.

"I can also speak that way, but I choose not to. The way BJP leaders speak...it shows their culture and background," Siddaramaiah told reporters at his home office Krishna.

During a recent speech, BJP's Dakshina Kannada MP Nalin Kumar Kateel referred to Siddaramaiah as "narahantaka" (slayer), whereas Union Minister Anantkumar Hegde called him "paapi" (sinner). Udupi-Chikmagalur MP Shobha Karandlaje reportedly said Siddaramaiah should be beaten up with a hammer and former minister C T Ravi said the Siddaramaiah government had joined hands with jihadists.

"Is it right to speak this way as politicians? With such statements, they are simply trying to incite people," Siddaramaiah said. He also took on his Uttar Pradesh counterpart Yogi Adityanath. "It's a question of Kannadigas' pride. They will not tolerate this and they will teach (BJP) a lesson."

Speaking to reporters separately, Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy said Hegde, Shobha, Ravi and Kateel were "black spots" in Karnataka politics.

"They are unfit to be politicians. Their leaders will stoop to any level to get power," Reddy said.

The minister said crime rate was high during the previous BJP regime. "During 2008-13, Karnataka saw 8,885 murders against 7,759 in the last five years. There were 9,648 dacoity cases during the BJP rule compared to 5,545 in our time," he said.

Reddy added that 11 Muslims had been killed by organisations of the Sangh Parivar.

"What should we call the BJP? Aren't they murderers too? Are they not sinners, too?," he said.