Karnataka: Akhanda Srinivas Murthy, Former Congress MLA Whose House Was Burnt During 2020 Bengaluru Riots, Joins BJP

Former Karnataka Congress MLA from Pulakeshi Nagar Akhanda Srinivas Murthy, whose house was burnt by an Islamist mob during the Bengaluru riots, on Wednesday (17 April) joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

He had quit the Congress after being denied a ticket to contest the Assembly elections last year.

Srinivas Murthy was welcomed into the party fold by BJP veteran and former Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa and Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje, among other leaders.

Pulakeshinagar Assembly constituency comes under Bangalore North Lok Sabha segment, from where Karandlaje is contesting in the coming Lok Sabha elections.

"Srinivas Murthy joining BJP before the elections has given the party a big strength," Yediyurappa said on the occasion.

"Shobha Karandlaje winning with a margin of 2.5 lakh to three lakh votes is certain," he added.

During the Bengaluru riots in August 2020, a Muslim mob, angered by a Facebook post on Prophet Muhammad allegedly shared by Akhanda Srinivas Murthy's nephew, rampaged on the streets and attacked the DJ Halli and KG Halli police stations, torched police vehicles and numerous other vehicles and caused immense damage to public property.

In the incident, Congress MLA R Akhanda Srinivas Murthy’s house was also burnt down by the mob,

In a press conference after the riots, Akhanda Srinivas Murthy, a Dalit leader, cried in front of the media, recalling that he always considered Muslims as his brothers.

Narrating the incident, he said that a mob of 3000-4000 rioters arrived at his house and started a fire, poured petrol and burnt tires.

“They attacked with swords, hatchets, sticks and also threw petrol bombs at my residence”, he said.

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