B.K Hariprasad shared a screenshot on his X account

Puneeth approached the Basavanagudi Police Station

R.Ashok condemned the post

With the Ram Mandir inauguration just 2 weeks away, the political battle surrounding the event has intensified in Karnataka. Congress leader BK Hariprasad had earlier claimed that the possibility of a Godhra-riot like incident unfolding ahead of the inauguration cannot be ruled out. He shared a screenshot on his X account claiming that it was retrieved from the WhatsApp group of Rashtra Rakshane Pade.

ಸರ್ವ ಜನಾಂಗದ ಶಾಂತಿಯ ತೋಟದಲ್ಲಿ ಕೋಮು ಗಲಭೆ ಸೃಷ್ಟಿಸಿ, ಧರ್ಮ ಧರ್ಮಗಳ ನಡುವೆ ಬೆಂಕಿ ಹಚ್ಚುವ ಕೆಲಸಕ್ಕೆ ಬಿಜೆಪಿ ಪಕ್ಷ ತನ್ನ ಸಹೋದರ ಸಂಘಟನೆಗಳಿಗೆ ಅಣಿಗೊಳಿಸುತ್ತಿರುವುದು ಬಹಿರಂಗವಾಗುತ್ತಿದೆ.

ರೌಡಿ ಶೀಟರ್ ಆಗಿರುವ ಪುನೀತ್ ಕೆರೆಹಳ್ಳಿ ಎಂಬ ಮತಾಂಧನಿಗೆ ಬಿಜೆಪಿಯಿಂದ ಕೋಮು ಗಲಬೆ ನಡೆಸುವ ಫತ್ವಾ ಬಂದಿದೆ ಎಂದು ಸ್ವತಃ ತಾನೇ ಸೃಷ್ಟಿಸಿರುವ… pic.twitter.com/ULB5eGdZyn

— Hariprasad.B.K. (@HariprasadBK2) January 6, 2024

 In this purported screenshot, Hindu Activist Puneeth Kerehalli is seen stating that they have received the backing of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to carry out communal riots across the state. The members of the groups were asked to be prepared and were informed that further instructions would be provided to them on the group. The message ended with a declaration that Prime Minister Narendr Modi would return to power in the 2024 election. 

Puneeth Kerehalli has however stated that the screenshots are fake. He characterised that as an attempt to scare Hindu activists. He sought clarification from him with regard to how he retrieved the screenshot. Puneeth claimed to have received 30-40 threat calls after Hariprasad’s post. 

He approached the Basavanagudi Police Station over this issue. The police allegedly refused to file an FIR following which Puneeth started a demonstration outside the police station until it was filed. 

Leader of Opposition, R.Ashok condemned the post and stated that Hariprasad ought to be served a notice and spend a couple of days in jail.