Following the electoral success in Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat, the BJP has turned its attention towards Karnataka, which goes to polls early next year.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath yesterday addressed a rally at Hubbali, where he attacked the Congress government accusing it of doing appeasement politics in the state.

Launching a scathing attack on the Siddaramaiah government, Yogi Adityanath accused the Congress of "insulting" India's rich tradition by showing respect to the 18th century Mysore ruler Tipu Sultan. The Congress government of Karnataka recently celebrated Tipu Jayanti triggering a controversy.

YOGI SLAMS CONGRESS

Yogi Adityanath called Karnataka "the land of Hanuman" and home to valour and courage of the rulers of Vijayanagar empire while accusing the Congress of worshipping Tipu Sultan. He said that it was unfortunate that the Congress "instead of worshipping Hanuman and Vijayanagar was worshiping Tipu Sultan."

"This is the difference in mindset, because Congress wants to implement across the country the mafia raj that Rahul Gandhi has inherited. Karnataka has to dismiss this, like Gujarat and Himachal have dismissed," Yogi Adityanath said.

"If Karnataka dismisses Congress in one go, no one else will come to worship Tipu Sultan," Yogi Adityanath said adding, "I'm sure that by bringing BJP back to power in Karnataka you will make it clear that in India Hanuman, saints and great spiritual leaders will get worshipped, and not Tipu Sultan."

PRAKASH RAJ QUESTIONS YOGI

Reacting to Yogi Adityanath's comments, actor Prakash Raj said that the UP CM was "sowing seeds of disharmony and hatred in Karnataka". He wrote on Twitter, "Yogi ji orders people of Karnataka "don't celebrate tippu sultan in the land of hanuman" dear sir.. what's your agenda again (sic)."

"Why are you sowing the seeds of disharmony and hatred in Karnataka," Prakash Raj asked.

He also said, "Your partymen, your leaders, the ones who are sharing the dais with you, are the ones seen beaming with joy while celebrating Tipu Jayanthy just a few years back."

FIRST RAJNATH, NOW YOGI

Adityanath was speaking at the "Parivarthana Yatra" rally organised by the state BJP as part of its programme to "expose the misdeeds" of the Congress government in the state.

Earlier on Sunday, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh addressed a rally in Karnataka saying that if BJP won the Assembly election next year, the new government will ensure justice for journalist-activist Gauri Lankesh and teenager fisherman Paresh Mesta.

Veteran journalist Lankesh was shot dead by unidentified assailants outside her residence in Bengaluru in September, leading to a national outrage. Paresh Mesta was found dead under mysterious circumstances in Uttara Kannada district, leading to violence earlier this month.

Yogi Adityanath: Congress worships Tipu Sultan instead of Lord Hanuman