Bhatkal: The Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) organized a protest in Bhatkal, demanding the immediate arrest of BJP leader Krishna Naik over his inflammatory remarks against the Muslim community. Addressing the police, SDPI warned that failure to arrest Naik and put him behind bars would result in intensified protests, potentially leading to a police station siege.
The controversy began when BJP held a statewide protest against the Congress government’s alleged encroachment on farmers' land under the pretext of Waqf properties. During this protest in Bhatkal, Krishna Naik reportedly made provocative statements, asserting that Muslims are mere “tenants” in India and that their rightful place is in Pakistan. Naik also claimed that the land Muslims own in India was “given to them in 1947” and that any attempt by Muslims to claim ownership would lead to their forced departure to Pakistan, for which he said even women from the community would be enough.
Present at the protest were other BJP leaders, including former MLA Sunil Naik. Following the incident, videos of Krishna Naik’s speech quickly went viral on social media, causing widespread outrage and sparking tension in the local Muslim community.
Expressing strong dissatisfaction with the police’s inaction on Naik’s remarks, SDPI district president Taufeeq Beary questioned why the authorities hadn’t taken suo motu action against Naik. He also criticized local Congress leaders for their silence and challenged the police and intelligence agencies, asking why no intervention occurred during the BJP protest, where hate-filled speeches were openly delivered.
Beary mockingly addressed Krishna Naik as “Mr. Pakistan,” demanding a thorough investigation into Naik’s potential ties to Pakistan, given that several BJP leaders have faced accusations and jail time over alleged connections with Pakistan.
The protest took place along the National Highway near the Circuit House, with slogans raised against BJP, Sangh Parivar, and RSS. Other SDPI members, including district vice president Waseem Manigar, were present, and police ensured strict security measures. While SDPI initially planned to submit a written complaint at the police station, the Circle Police Inspector accepted their complaint on-site.
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