MP Surya’s remarks on Muslim Covid warriors trigger furore
Bengaluru south MP Tejasvi Surya courted controversy for unfairly targeting members of the Muslim community during his inspection of the Covid-19 war room in south Bengaluru on Tuesday. During the inspection, he read out the names of 17 out of the 205 persons employed at the centre, asking their qualifications. All of them were Muslim names.
While there has been outrage against his statements in social media and civil society, lawyers in the city say his actions should result in a police FIR.
In a video that has been in circulation since the inspection, Surya, standing along with MLAs Satish Reddy and Ravi Subramanya, is seen reading out the names of the 17 Muslim employees at the centre and demanded the qualifications of these persons. A staffer responded to him saying all of them were hired after applications were invited by the BBMP for agencies. In response, MLA Subramanya is heard asking, “Only these people are sending applications?” He then goes on to add that, “Are you hiring for a corporation or a Madarasa?”
An officer familiar with the matter said the process is on to replace that outsourcing agency that hired the 17 Muslims.
The MP claimed at a press conference that he had uncovered a massive fraud in how the BBMP war-room books beds. Interestingly, the BBMP is conKarnataka.The trolled by his own party, the BJP.
When HT contacted Bengaluru police, they said two FIRs have been registered in the case, and subsequently transferred to the Crime Branch, but that none of these 17 men was part of it. Joint Commissioner of Police Sandeep Patil identified the four accused as Rihan, Shashi, Rohit, and Netravati. “As part of the investigation, we have conducted searches in all eight zonal war rooms,” he added.
However, soon after the MP’s press conference about his inspection, a WhatsApp message titled “List of terrorists working in BBMP WAR ROOM killing thousands of Bengalurians” began doing rounds in the city. Another WhatsApp message targeted BBMP joint commissioner Sarfaraz Khan.In response, the official said in a Facebook post that he has nothing to do with the war-room
Surya didn’t respond to calls and a WhatsApp message.