SHIVAMOGGA/BENGALURU: Politics over beef plumbed new depths on Tuesday when a BJP functionary from Shivamogga threatened to “behead” Karnataka’s Congress chief minister Siddaramaiah and “play football with his severed head” if he ate cow meat. S N Channabasappa , Shivamogga BJP secretary and a former municipal councilor, was promptly arrested.

He made the remarks on Monday in reaction to the CM’s statement that no one can stop him “from eating beef, pork or any other meat”. A red-faced BJP sought to play down his statement saying Channabasappa was an “inconsequential” figure. Instead, it targeted Siddaramaiah for “endorsing” beef-eating.

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BJP leader says will behead Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah if he eats beef

Channabasappa was arrested following complaints by Shivamogga Congress chief R Prasanna Kumar and youth wing chief K Ranganath. Doddapet police arrested Channabasappa and charged him under sections 153 (wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) and 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation) of IPC.

Channabasappa had made the statement at a protest organized by BJP on Monday night daring Siddaramaiah to come to Shivamogga and eat beef. “I will behead him and play football with his severed head,” he had threatened.

BJP state chief and Dharwad MP Prahlad Joshi said, “BJP condemns the statement made by our leader from Shivamogga. We also condemn the CM’s provocative statement. Statements from people like Channabasappa are deplorable and the party disowns such utterances. That said, the CM’s public statement of planning to eat beef or pork is also condemnable. It has hurt the feelings of lakhs of people.”

A week ago, Siddaramaiah had said no one can stop him from eating beef, pork or any other meat. “Till date, I have not eaten beef. If it suits me, I’ll do so. Nobody can stop me. I am not one to be cowed down by BJP’s protests,” he had said.

On Tuesday, the CM stood by his statement. “I have not seen the video (of Channabasappa making the statement). If he has said this, I will mull legal proceedings,” Siddaramaiah said. “I never said I eat beef or pork. I have never eaten till now. I had said no one can stop me if I want to eat meat.”

Siddaramaiah accused the BJP of attempting to rake up communal tension through such issues.

City BJP chief M Shankar questioned the CM’s statement. “If Siddaramaiah starts eating beef, then other Congress leaders will start consuming dogs, rats and other animals to please their leader. Don’t allow these Congress leaders to enter your house for committing this unpardonable sin,” he said. No complaint was filed against him.

Asked if Channabasappa’s statement ran counter to Union minister Arun Jaitley’s statement that there was no intolerance in the country, Prahlad Joshi said, “If that’s the case, the CM’s statement, too, reeks of intolerance. When he knows beef is an emotive issue for Hindus, making a provocative statement from a public forum is also a sign of intolerance.”

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