DMK Moves Election Commission Against Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje Over Remarks Targeting Tamils

The complaint arose following Shobha Karandlaje's controversial statement linking the suspect in Rameshwaram cafe blast to Tamil Nadu.

The DMK, the ruling party of Tamil Nadu, approached the Election Commission (EC) against Union Minister and BJP Bengaluru North candidate Shobha Karandlaje. In the complaint to EC, DMK alleged that Union Minister for State Shobha Karandlaje and BJP violated Sections 123(3A) and 125 of the RP Act, as well as the Model Code of Conduct. 

The complaint arose following Karandlaje's controversial statement linking the suspect in Rameshwaram cafe blast to Tamil Nadu.

A letter by DMK organisation secretary RS Bharathi to Chief Election Commissioner said, "The socially divisive statement made by the Hon'ble Minister has significantly harmed the relations between the two communities, and has led to animosity and hatred between them, which has been further amplified by social media and electronic print media. The statement also tantamounts to hate speech."

"The Hon'ble Minister has promoted enmity and caused immense tension between the people of Tamil Nadu, who have been alleged to be the culprit behind planting the bomb at the café in Bangalore, and the people of Karnataka, who were the victims of the bomb blast," it said.

On Tuesday, Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje made a controversial statement which created a controversy and evoked condemnation of the people. She said, “People from Tamil Nadu come here, get trained there and plant bombs here. Placed bomb in cafe." 

Meanwhile, the complaint came even after Shobha Karandlaje issued an apology to the people of Tamil Nadu. Taking to X, Shobha Karandlaje said, "To my Tamil brothers & sisters, I wish to clarify that my words were meant to shine light, not cast shadows. Yet I see that my remarks brought pain to some - and for that, I apologize. My remarks were solely directed towards those trained in the Krishnagiri forest, linked to the Rameshwaram Cafe blast. To anyone from Tamilnadu effected, From the depths of my heart, I ask your forgiveness. Furthermore, I retract my previous comments."