Yediyurappa backs Tejasvi Surya's 'epicentre of terrorism' remark

Lok Sabha MP Tejasvi Surya, who was recently made the president of the BJP Yuva Morcha, has been backed by Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa over his controversial remark that state capital Bengaluru has become an epicentre of terror activities.

Surya, representing Bangalore (South) in Lok Sakha, invited criticism on Sunday by saying terrorist groups want to use the city as “incubation centre” for terror activities. He also said he requested Union Home Minister Amit Shah to set up a permanent division of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in the city.

“In last few years, Bengaluru, the Silicon Valley of India, has become epicentre of terror activities. It has been proved through many arrests and sleeper terror cells busted by the investigative agency in the city,” Surya, 29, had said just a day after becoming BJYM chief.

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Citing the August 11 violence in Bengaluru that had erupted over sharing of a social media post, he further said that the NIA investigation indicated that “many terrorist organisations are using Bengaluru as their incubation centre for carrying out anti-India activities.”

Yediyurappa found nothing wrong with the “epicentre of terror activities” remark. Backing Surya, he said what he meant was terror activities are nowadays increasing in Bengaluru. He said he has also been requesting PM Modi to set up a division of NIA office in Bengaluru.

The remark, however, met with criticism in the Opposition camp with Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee chief DK Shivakumar condemning the MP’s statement. “BJP should sack him. He is killing Bengaluru. It is a shame for the BJP,” NDTV quoted him as saying.