Bengaluru: Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje offered an apology to ‘Tamil brothers & sisters’for her statement that the suspect involved in the March 1 blast at The Rameshwaram Cafe was from Tamil Nadu, NDTV reported.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader said she wanted to clarify that her words were ‘meant to shine light, not cast shadows.’
‘To my Tamil brothers & sisters, I wish to clarify that my words were meant to shine light, not cast shadows. Yet I see that my remarks brought pain to some - and for that, I apologize. My remarks were solely directed towards those trained in the Krishnagiri forest, linked to the Rameshwaram Cafe blast. To anyone from Tamil Nadu effected, From the depths of my heart, I ask your forgiveness. Furthermore, I retract my previous comments,’ Karandlaje said on 'X'.
Earlier the Union Minister zeroed in Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin blaming that his ‘appeasement politics’ emboldened radical elements to target Hindus and BJP workers.
"Mr. Stalin, What has become of Tamil Nadu under your rule? Your appeasement politics have emboldened radical elements to attack on Hindus & BJP workers day and night. Frequent Bomb blasts bearing the hallmarks of terror outfits like ISIS explode while you turn a blind eye,’ Karandlaje previously said in another post on 'X'.
The Union Minister claimed the bomber involved in the Rameshwaram cafe blast case was trained in Krishnagiri forests.
‘FYI, the Rameshwaram bomber was trained in Krishnagiri forests under your nose. Tamil makkal has a long history of harmonious relations with Karnataka.’ Her post reportedly said.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin hit back at the Union Minister saying she has no authority to make such assertions.
‘Strongly condemn Union BJP Minister @ShobhaBJP's reckless statement. One must either be an NIA official or closely linked to the #RameshwaramCafeBlast to make such claims. Clearly, she lacks the authority for such assertions,’ Stalin reacted in a post on 'X'.
Stalin further said that ‘Tamilians and Kannadigas alike will reject this divisive rhetoric of BJP’, while demanding legal action against Karandlaje.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) detained a suspect identified as Shabbir from Ballary in Karnataka in connection with Bengaluru's Rameshwaram Cafe blast which had taken place on March 1, NDTV reported citing sources.