If I were Home-Minister, would've ordered intellectuals' shooting: BJP Minister
What's the story
Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, a BJP MLA from Karnataka, has sparked a row by saying he would have ordered the shooting of intellectuals, had he been the Home Minister of India. Speaking at a Kargil Diwas on Thursday, he alleged 'intellectuals raised slogans against the Indian Army'. He then went on to term intellectuals and liberals as 'anti-national'. Here's more on what he said.
Quote
Here are Basanagouda's hateful thoughts about intellectuals
"Intellectuals live in this country and use all facilities for which we pay tax. Then they raise slogans against our Army. India faces grave danger from them. If I was Home Minister, I would have issued orders to shoot them," said Basanagouda.
Looking back
As it turns out, Basanagouda is a serial hater
This is not the first time when Basanagouda has spewed hatred against a community. Earlier, it was Muslim community which had received his despise. In June, Basanagouda had said: "I had instructed my people that those with topi (cap) and burkha should not come and stand in my office or beside me." Bigotry has become the language of the land, it seems!
Career
BJP to JD(S) and back: Basanagouda's allegiance changed, bigotry didn't
Basanagouda served as a BJP MLA from 1994 and 1999, and then as an MP from Bijapur from 1999 to 2009. Under Atal Bihari Vajpayee's rule, Basanagouda was the MoS for Textiles and Railways. He quit BJP for JD(S) in 2010, was an independent MLC in 2011, and rejoined BJP in 2013. If only he switched bigotry like he did political parties.