Chennai: In a controversial statement just ahead of civic body polls in Karnataka, Bharatiya Janata Party leader CT Ravi on Tuesday said that the ideologies of Taliban, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) and Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) are the same. He further said that the parties with such ideology will not win in Karnataka.
"AIMIM is like the Taliban of Karnataka. The ideologies of Taliban, AIMIM, and SDPI are the same. Taliban will not be accepted in Kalaburagi," said BJP National General Secretary CT Ravi to ANI, while campaigning in Kalaburagi for Kalaburagi City Corporation polls.
He also said that he trusts that BJP will win with a majority in Kalaburagi Corporation polls and along with victory the party also aims for development and Hindutva. He also added that people do not trust Congress anymore.
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Meanwhile, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi responded to BJP National General Secretary CT Ravi’s remark and said, “He (Ravi) is just a child and knows nothing about international politics. Will BJP ban Taliban under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA)?"
The statement by the BJP leader comes ahead of civic body elections to three city corporations including Hubballi-Dharwad, Kalaburagi and Belagavi and other civic bodies on September 3. The election is set to test Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, who replaced BS Yediyurappa in July. All the three constituencies fall under North Karnataka which has high Lingayat voters and the pressure is more on Bommai since he is from Lingayat community.
The party has also launched a door-to-door campaign with 12,000 party workers "Maha Samparka Abhiyan" to highlight the works of BJP and to urge people to vote for BJP.