Karnataka BJP leaders rally behind MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal for calling freedom fighter HS Doreswamy a 'Pakistani agent'

Bengaluru: The BJP leaders in Karnataka rallied behind Vijayapura MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal amid a controversy over his remarks that centenarian freedom fighter HS Doreswamy was a “Pakistani agent”. The saffron party leaders have extended support to Yatnal, days after he called Doreswamy a “fake freedom fighter” who behaves like a “Pakistani agent”. Yatnal made the comments at a press conference on 25 February while reacting to a query on a public meeting organised by the Congress titled ‘Save the Constitution’. [caption id=“attachment_5052701” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File Image of BJP MLA Basangouda Patil Yatnal. ANI[/caption] “There are many fake freedom fighters. There is one in Bengaluru. Now we have to say what Doreswamy is. Where is that old man? He behaves like a Pakistan agent,” Patil had said. “Doreswamy is an elderly person and senior to all. He had participated in various agitations. He should also see what to talk and who will be hurt with those statements. We have all seen what he said about Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” Primary and Secondary Education Minister S Suresh Kumar told reporters in Kodagu on Saturday reacting to Yatnal’s outburst against Doreswamy. Noting that the statements were made in bitter taste, Kumar said, “If you speak unpleasant, you will hear unpleasant.” Bellary City MLA G Somashekara Reddy too backed Yatnal saying that the his statement was appropriate. “There is nothing wrong in his statement. It is absolutey correct. I support him. It is not just okay to be a freedom fighter but he should be a ‘Deshbhakt’ (patriot) too, who respects the unity and integrity of the nation.” On Friday, another BJP Minister KS Eshwarappa slammed Doreswamy alleging that he had visited Amulya Leona’s residence and was in good relationship with her family. Amulya had raised ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ slogans at an anti-CAA event here on 21 February, taking everybody present by shock and dismay. “We respect Doreswamy but he dances to the tune of Congress and supports whatever their leaders say,” Eshwarappa alleged.