BJP MP Tejasvi Surya has criticized the “appeasement politics” of the ruling Congress government in Karnataka following an incident in Bengaluru where a shopkeeper was attacked by a group of men for playing loud music allegedly during the azaan (Islamic call to prayer).
Tejasvi Surya met with Mukesh, the shopkeeper, on Monday and stated, “If the other three accused are not arrested by tomorrow, the BJP will organize a bandh in Nagarathpete and protest outside the shop.”
#WATCH | Bengaluru, Karnataka | After meeting the shopkeeper who was attacked by a group of over five men for playing devotional music, BJP MP Tejasvi Surya says, “Yesterday evening, Mukesh, was conducting his business. He tells me that every evening, he had a practice of playing… pic.twitter.com/PKfFKXXLDI
— ANI (@ANI) March 18, 2024
In a social media post, the Bangalore South MP mentioned, “A Hindu shopkeeper playing bhajans at his shop was assaulted by anti-social elements claiming that bhajans are not permitted during the time of ‘azaan’.”
Directing his criticism at the Congress government in Karnataka, Surya asserted, “With political support given to Jihadis, such incidents of violence against Hindus have increased in our State.”
He urged the Chief Minister to refrain from setting wrong examples and called upon him to provide updates on the actions taken against the perpetrators in this case.
On March 17, Mukesh, the shopkeeper, was assaulted by a group of men for playing loud music allegedly during the evening prayers.
Listen to Victim Mukesh and his father’s statements.
Love what #TejasviSurya is doing.
“Gather tomorrow at 12:30PM right infront of the shop and let’s all chant Hanuman Chalisa”
Dekhte hai kaun hai jo rokhne ki koshish karega. pic.twitter.com/X1QVigaIr2
— Partik Bharti (Modi ka Parivar) 🇮🇳 (@PartikS14379200) March 19, 2024
According to Mukesh’s complaint to the police, some individuals approached his shop and demanded that he stop playing music as it was time for the azaan. When he refused, they physically attacked him.
Although Mukesh later mentioned that the men objected to him playing Hanuman Chalisa on loudspeakers, this detail was not included in his official complaint, as per the police.
The five accused individuals were identified as Suleman, Shahnawaz, Rohith, Dyanish, and Taruna.
After reviewing the CCTV footage from the shop, the police arrested three of the accused, including two Muslims and one Hindu, while the remaining three are currently at large. The investigation into the matter is ongoing.