Learn constitution; oath in assembly should not be a jumla: UT Khader hits out at hate-filled Yatnal

Mangaluru, Jun 9: Minister for Urban Development and Housing U T Khader has taken BJP leader and Vijayapura MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal to task for his anti-constitutional and hate-filled remarks.

What Yatnal said?

A video of Yatnal instructing corporators to work only for Hindus and not for Muslims, has gone viral on social media. “I had called all corporators and have told them that they should work for only Hindus and not Muslims...,” Yatnal is clearly heard saying in the video.

“I had said no to Saabru (Muslims) in the beginning itself...I had instructed my people that those with topi (cap) and burkha should not come and stand in my office or beside me,” he said.

Yatnal had made these statements at a function on June 4 in Vijayapura. Later, in a press conference, Yatnal defended his statement, asking if it was “wrong to speak in favour of Hindus?”

Khader’s response

When media persons in Mangaluru today sought  Mr Khader’s response to Yatnal’s statement, he said that Yatnal must learn Indian constitution. “He has given anti-constitutional statement. A people’s representative should not be any particular community or caste’s representative,” he said.

Mr Khader also said that just by winning a poll one will not become an MLA. “After winning he should take oath in the assembly wherein he will pledge to work impartially without making any differences among people. “Oath should not be mere a jumla. We should follow it,” he said.

The minister also said that if Yatnal continues to sideline the constitutional values and refuses to do people’s work just because they don’t belong to his caste or community they can approach Congress office and get their works done.