Bengaluru, Apr 21: Hardline BJP leader and Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya, who had deleted some of his old sexist tweets while contesting for Lok Sabha polls, yesterday deleted deleted his ugly remarks against Arab woman after it went viral and triggered sharp response from many quarters, including from the Arab world.
In 2015, before Surya became an MP, he had said in a tweet, "95% of Arab women have never had an orgasm in the last few hundred years! Every mother has produced kids as an act of sex and not love. @Tarek Fatah."
The old tweet was picked up some influential members in the Arab community. Many intellectuals and various members of the royal families too have over the past few days condemned the attacks on Muslims in India and called out instances on Islamophobia. They have been highlighting derogatory comments about the Arab community purportedly made by supporters of the ruling BJP. It was then that a few found that even present day recognised leaders like Tejasvi had made similar comments in the past.
As the outrage grew, Tejasvi deleted the old tweet. A lot of BJP supporters on Twitter then started pointing out that Tejasvi Surya had merely quoted Canadian journalist Tareh Fatah, known for his anti-Islam comments. But by then someone had archived the tweet and Tejasvi's response to it in 2015.
In a thread to the same tweet, responding to criticism, Surya had said that these were not his opinion but attributed to Tarek Fatah. He also said that he agrees with Fateh's position that 'Islamofascism was a threat to all civilsations'.
Surya could not be reached for a comment.
However, a source close to Surya, said, "This is a 2015 tweet where Tejasvi Surya was quoting Tarek Fatah from an interview. It is being wrongly attributed to him with malicious intent. The main issue being addressed in the interview was about the barbaric and inhuman practice of genital mutilation of women. If there's any person to comment on it, it has to be Tarek Fatah."
Tejasvi Surya had landed in a similar controversy soon after his nomination as a candidate just ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
Surya could not be reached for a comment.
However, a source close to Surya, said, "This is a 2015 tweet where Tejasvi Surya was quoting Tarek Fatah from an interview. It is being wrongly attributed to him with malicious intent. The main issue being addressed in the interview was about the barbaric and inhuman practice of genital mutilation of women. If there's any person to comment on it, it has to be Tarek Fatah."
Tejasvi Surya had landed in a similar controversy soon after his nomination as a candidate just ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
The Congress also stepped in to criticise Surya and the BJP, national spokesperson Sanjay Jha said in a tweet, “The BJP gives tickets to Pragya Singh Thakur and #TejasviSurya etc because it helps popularise their hardline bigoted political profile. But the chickens usually come home to roost. Today, India stands embarrassed, humiliated.”
Comments
No muslim will pelt stone to mosques. Then who else???
I wont think that KN govt will control those media. especially siddaramaiah govt. They are always giving preferences to Mulsims
I can strongly say that many of the issues worsening because of biased medias. They are propagating their ideology. Karnataka govt should control that.
Police should act fast and effectively. Should use commandos if needed
Guilty people should get arrested
Mr. Althaf. Did those people written and kept we are Hindus..? I too saw video. From low resolution video how to came to know that he is those people are Hindus. I know many Muslims who does not like many of your rules and rigidity.
honnavara is burning, chickmangalore is in boil, Hunsur suppose to burn! but the communal goons roam free, and we say secular govt, is in power! vote devide bla bla bla!!!! jus wake up and see the realities!!
The policemen belongs to CongRSS party which is ruling Karnataka..
I saw one video in that hindus are pelting stone at mosques and piolice personel are watching this without taking any action. Infront of police Hindu guys are destroying public properties and police is watching the show. Shame on police. How can people trust this police?? Who will save muslim properties and mosques?
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