‘Deeply concerned’ says Congress; ‘known terrorist sympathiser’, BJP hits back
Chandigarh: A war of words has broken out between the Congress government and the BJP in Karnataka over the deportation of ‘controversial’ UK writer Nitasha Kaul back to London from the Bengaluru airport on Sunday.
Security agencies detained Kaul on her arrival at the KempeGowda International Airport in Bengaluru and later deported her back to London. Kaul later claimed that she was denied entry despite having an invitation to speak at a conference organised by the Karnataka government.
Kaul – has reacted to alleged claims that she was refused entry because she is “married to a Pakistani… a pawn of China… a puppet (of the) West…”
“Re: all the lies, I am not married to a Pakistani, not a Muslim convert, not a pawn of China, not a puppet of (the) West, not a commie (Communist), not a jihadi, not a Pak sympathiser, not a terrorist supporter, not anti-India, and not part of a gang,” she posted on X (formerly Twitter).
“My experience was harrowing… but the humiliation is not mine. It is that of a ridiculous, insecure regime. What I have termed as’moral wound of colonialism’ in my work is very much on display.”
“Selective resurrections of past macro histories are used to manipulate present sentiment,” she said.
“I urge you to think beyond walls of hate against those different from you… and to read and understand what I say and think, before rushing to condemn. It is hard but it is possible.”
Kaul, an OCI cardholder and writer based in London, was invited by the government of Karnataka to participate in a conference titled ‘The Constitution and Unity of India’ held over the weekend in Bengaluru.
While, Minister for Social Welfare, HC Mahadevappa, said the Congress government is ‘deeply concerned’ about Kaul being denied entry into India, state BJP President BY Vijayendra slammed the Congress by dubbing the act of inviting Kaul to Karnataka as a ‘disgusting act’.
Taking to X, Mahadevappa said, “We are deeply concerned about Nitasha Kaul being denied entry into India. Speaking on democratic and constitutional values is a right we must uphold. Let’s respect Freedom of Speech, a fundamental constitutional right, and encourage open dialogue for a stronger democracy.”
Mahadevappa added, “As we know, the BJP is always against the spirit of the Constitution. Because of their ignorance about our constitutional values, such things are taking place repeatedly. We condemn such acts of dictatorship towards the values of the Indian Constitution.”
On the other hand, Vijayendra said, “Highly disgusted by the CM Siddaramaiah-led government whitewashing the crimes of ‘Tukde Tukde’ gang by inviting Nitasha Kaul for a talk on ‘Constitution and Unity of India’.
“A known terrorist sympathiser and one who constantly spews venom and disseminates anti-India propaganda in connivance with the enemies of the Indian state is accorded a red carpet welcome by the Congress-ruled Karnataka government, which is a highly condemnable and unpardonable crime.
“Equally disgusting is the fact that the event was attended by all the top leaders of the Congress. What is more worrisome and annoying is the government’s indulgence in unwanted expenditures involving crores of rupees when our state and the farmers are already in distress owing to unprecedented drought and severe water crisis.”
Kaul, an OCI cardholder and writer based in London, was invited by the government of Karnataka to participate in a conference titled ‘The Constitution and Unity of India’ held over the weekend in Bengaluru.
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