Huge Row In Karnataka After BJP Leader Calls Freedom Fighter "Pak Agent"

The Karnataka Assembly was adjourned on Monday after heated arguments over comments made against 102-year-old freedom fighter HS Doreswamy by a BJP leader.

Mr Doreswamy has been a prominent figure at protests against the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and has been openly critical of BJP-led central government's policies.

Former chief minister of the Congress, Siddaramaiah, raised the issue in the assembly, and in the noise that followed - the House was adjourned for the day.

Working president of the state Congress unit Eshwar Khandre told NDTV, "BJP leaders, especially Basangouda Patil Yatnal, has made very derogatory remarks against freedom fighters of this country. He has called Shri HS Doreswamy a Pakistani agent. Which is anti-national. We in the Assembly have demanded that the government take immediate action, book a case against him, expel him from legislatorship and uphold the honour and dignity of the House."

Opposition parties assembled at centre of the house, demanding that they be allowed to raise the matter and forcing repeated adjournments.

The ruling BJP opposed attempts by the Leader of the Opposition Siddaramaiah to raise the issue, without any prior notice.

Basangouda Patil Yatnal's comments against Mr Doreswamy, calling him a "fake freedom fighter" and "Pakistani agent" have snowballed into a major a row amid the Karnataka Assembly's budget session which is expected to clear the state budget on Thursday.

Congress leaders have said Mr Yatnal's comments are in violation of the constitution as by disrespecting a freedom fighter like Mr Doreswamy, he had disrespected the freedom movement, which is in "violation of our fundamental duties".

The BJP leader has made it clear that there was no question of withdrawing his statements against Mr Doreswamy and even went on to call him a "mouthpiece" in favour of the Janata Dal Secular (JD-S) and Congress.

Several BJP legislators have come out in defence of the Vijayapura city MLA, questioning the Congress and the freedom fighter for their alleged comments against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP icon VD Savarkar.