Bengaluru/New Delhi, July 19 : The BJP on Sunday launched a sharp attack on the Congress after senior Karnataka MLA H.C. Balakrishna allegedly referred to Union Minister of State Shobha Karandlaje’s “Yajman” remark while defending the controversial Bidadi Township Project, triggering a political row in the state.
BJP National Spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla described the comments as “misogynistic” and “disrespectful”.
The row stems from Balakrishna’s comments while defending the controversial Bidadi Township Project near Bengaluru, which has faced stiff opposition from the BJP and JD(S) over concerns related to land acquisition and its environmental impact.
Targeting Shobha Karandlaje, Balakrishna reportedly stated that the project had been initiated by her “Yajman” (husband). Karandlaje is unmarried, and the remark was widely interpreted as an indirect reference to former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, who is often regarded as her political mentor.
The BJP condemned the statement, accusing the Congress leader of making sexist and inappropriate remarks against a woman in public life.
Reacting to the controversy on Sunday, Shehzad Poonawalla launched a scathing attack on the Congress and the Karnataka government led by Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar.
“Heights of shameless, brazen misogyny by the Congress party in Karnataka. They are implementing the Bidadi Township Project to take away farmers’ land, allegedly to benefit the real estate mafia. When the BJP protests, sexist and misogynistic comments are made against Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje,” Poonawalla said.
He termed Balakrishna’s remarks “unbecoming, shocking, and disgusting,” adding that such comments reflected the Congress party’s attitude towards women.
“A Congress MLA says this project was started by her ‘Yajman’. This is the most unbecoming, shocking, and disgusting comment to make about a woman in politics,” he said.
Poonawalla also accused the Congress leadership of maintaining silence over the issue and questioned the absence of senior leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.
“Where are Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Vadra now? This is the true face of the Congress party. BJP Karnataka is fighting for farmers and opposing the transfer of agricultural land, and in response, Congress leaders are resorting to misogynistic and sexist slurs against Shobha Karandlaje,” he said in a post on social media.
Invoking the Congress’ “Ladki Hoon, Lad Sakti Hoon” campaign slogan, Poonawalla questioned Priyanka Gandhi’s silence on the issue and alleged that the Congress government in Karnataka had failed to ensure women’s safety.
He also referred to the recent murder of a woman in Mangaluru district, who was hacked to death in broad daylight, to criticize the state’s law and order situation.
The Bidadi Township Project has emerged as a major political flashpoint in Karnataka, with opposition parties accusing the state government of facilitating large-scale land acquisition at the expense of farmers and the environment. The Congress, however, has maintained that the project is aimed at planned urban development.
–IANS
