Tamil Nadu: Police Arrest Right-Wing Leader For Saying BJP Needs To 'Stage Riots For Support'

The statement was made during a phone conversation with the BJP district president, following the party's defeat in the recent Lok Sabha elections.

A man in Tamil Nadu was arrested by the police for allegedly making a provocative statement saying that the BJP can only set up its base in the state by "instigating riots".

The right-wing group member made the remark in a telephonic conversation with Tamilselvan, president of Tirunelveli (South) district BJP, following the BJP defeat in the constituency in the April 19 Lok Sabha elections.

“The BJP can get a foothold in the state only if we orchestrate riots. Otherwise, no one will vote for us. Do these people (BJP) have the guts to oppose others? No. The only way (to grow) is to orchestrate riots,” Udayar told Tamilselvan, according to a report in Deccan Herald.

As per reports, the conversation took place after Nainar Nagendran, the BJP candidate, lost the Lok Sabha elections to the Congress candidate Robert Bruce by a margin exceeding one lakh votes.

Soon after the audio went viral, Udaiyar was arrested under sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and sent to judicial remand until June 25.

The report said that the accused was booked under sections 153 (wantonly giving provocation, with intent to cause riot), 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on the grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence), 504 Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace), and 505 (ii) of the IPC.

In the recent Lok Sabha elections, the BJP failed to secure any seats in Tamil Nadu. The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), led by Chief Minister MK Stalin emerged as the dominant force by bagging 22 out of 40 constituencies in the southern state, while their ally Congress secured 9 seats.

But, the DMK and the BJP have already been together in the past and were allies for a full term from 1999 to 2004 during the Vajpayee government.