In a video that has gone viral now, Karnataka CM HD Kumaraswamy can be seen passing controversial remarks regarding India’s preemptive air strikes to destroy the terror camps of Jaish-e-Muhammad. Kumaraswamy asserted that blasting terror hideouts in Pakistan and the subsequent celebrations in India will create communal tensions between the communities.

He says “Indians bombing Pakistan & celebrating India’s victory will create rift between two religions in India” CM @hd_kumaraswamy avare just reminding, you are a CM of an Indian state & not Pakistan. This statement completely exposes the anti India mindset of #Mahaghatbandhan pic.twitter.com/hCfAuumG69 — BJP Karnataka (@BJP4Karnataka) March 2, 2019

Speaking at a party meeting in Mysuru, Kumaraswamy said that those BJP workers who were bursting crackers, celebrating the bombings, distributing tea in India, were adding fuel to the fire and creating a rift between the two communities in India. “By celebrating bombings of terror camps inside Pakistan, taking to the streets, distributing sweets and tea and bursting crackers in celebration the BJP is fanning communal passions within the country. They are alienating members of one community to achieve political mileage. This might lead to loss of many innocent lives,” he said.

Kumaraswamy, in his speech, makes an outrageous insinuation that those who celebrate the Indian Air Force’s air strikes on terror camps in Pakistan are fueling communal hatred in India. His assertions also imply that certain community nurses sympathy for the terrorists harboured in Pakistan and that they cannot withstand the celebrations called for the annihilation of those terrorists.

Shame on you @BJP4Karnataka for misleading the people by editing& twisting my statement against the BJP to suit your ulterior motives. In my original speech, I had said, “BJP leaders are bragging as if they themselves did the attack and not our army.” You edited out the term BJP. — H D Kumaraswamy (@hd_kumaraswamy) March 2, 2019

Kumaraswamy, in his defence, tried to rubbish the allegations by stating that the BJP has resorted to the Pakistani hack of uploading doctored videos for propaganda. Kumaraswamy further claimed that the BJP had removed certain parts of his speech. He went on to accuse the BJP of running malicious propaganda against him for their electoral gains. Defending his speech, Karnataka CM stated that his comments were on the BJP and their allies’ efforts to acquire political currency out of our defence forces, and whipping up war euphoria leading to unrest in the society.

..out of our defence operations, & creating war euphoria leading to social unrest. My statement was on BJP propaganda, and not on army operations. You took it out of context and edited out words!

You proved once again you are fake news experts just like our neighbouring country. — H D Kumaraswamy (@hd_kumaraswamy) March 2, 2019

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Some BJP leaders of Karnataka have raised strong objections to the egregious comments made by the CM Kumaraswamy. Chikkamagaluru MLA CT Ravi accused the CM of dividing the citizens on communal lines. The BJP has also accused the coalition of JDU-Congress of playing appeasement politics to strengthen their vote-bank politics.

Dear CM of Haasana & Mandya @hd_kumaraswamy, I don’t see any reason why there will be animosity between two Communities if India attacks Terrorist bases in Pakistan. Why are you dividing Indians on Communal lines like your alliance partner CONgress?#WelcomeHomeAbhinandan pic.twitter.com/9TrCUNi9j4 — C T Ravi ?? (@CTRavi_BJP) March 2, 2019

It is notable here that several opposition parties including the Congress, despite having pledged their support to the government regarding necessary actions to be taken to combat terror, had issued a declaration later, alleging that the government is politicising the issue. The joint statement was also used by official channels in Pakistan to peddle their anti-India propaganda.