Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, BJP MLA from Karnataka’s Vijayapura, once again finds himself in the crosshairs of the Muslim community. He has been warned that if he does not return the calls for the “Waqf Hatao, Desh Bachao” rally on November 6, the alleged CD with evidence ‘exposing him’ will be released to the public.
The alleged threat was issued by a group of local Muslim leaders in Vijayapura, led by Advocate SS Quadri.
Yatnal called for a “Waqf Hatao, Desh Bachao” rally on November 6, following the massive protest on October 16.
Muslim leaders have warned legislators to stop making provocative statements against the Muslim community or face public exposure. Yatnal has been known for his consistent stream of anti-Muslim comments, which has fueled discontent in an area already sensitive to religious tensions. Vijayapura, formerly Bijapur, though a Hindu-dominated constituency (67 percent), also has a large Muslim population (36 percent).
Quadri said he would release a video showing Yatnal’s true character if he continued his inflammatory speech, and would seek help from the court.
“His statement is provocative, spreading disharmony and making baseless accusations and insulting the Muslim community. This will not be tolerated. This is not a threat or considered blackmail. This is an act to expose the truth and demand accountability,” Quadri told News18.
Yatnal had approached a special court for people’s representatives in Bengaluru in 2019 seeking a stay on any material, print, video or audio that could be released in the media that could harm his image or political life, Quadri said.
“If everything is clear as they say, why not take the case again? We ask for an order from the honorable court to vacate this place. We warn him, he must stop making these statements to the public or face us,” he said.
List of Controversial Statements Yatnal
This is not the first time Yatnal has targeted the Muslim community. Earlier, in February 2023, during the state assembly polls, he openly announced that people should not vote for Muslims, making the election a battle between the legacy of Tipu Sultan and Shivaji Maharaj. Yatnal describes himself as a descendant of Shivaji, a symbol of Hindu pride, while Tipu Sultan’s position is a symbol of Muslim rule.
The statement sparked an uproar, and the BJP high command has issued a gag order against the leader.
A rabble-rouser known in his own party, he has a long history of controversial statements and actions, especially targeting Muslims, and his rhetoric has often been considered vitriolic. His anti-Muslim attitude reached a height when he blatantly announced, “Not a single vote should be cast for Muslims,” ​​during a public event in Vijayapura.
Yatnal had said, “All the MLAs are asking me, in your constituency, there are one lakh Tipu Sultans (Muslim votes), but how will the descendants of Shivaji Maharaj (meaning Hindus) win from Bijapur?….. advance in Bijapur, there are no followers of Tipu The Sultan will win. Only the descendants of Shivaji Maharaj will win. Even by mistake, you should not vote for the Muslims.”
Yatnal’s controversial statement is not new. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he attacked Islamic practices, calling it “silent Friday and bloodless Bakrid,” which angered many in the Muslim community.
The senior leader has also been vocal in his opposition to former Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa and his son BY Vijayendra, often criticizing his leadership style and dominance in the BJP. Yatnal accused him of running the BJP like a family business and openly challenged his influence in the party.
Yatnal entered the race for LoP as well as state president, but was ignored due to his strong opposition to Yediyurappa and his family, according to party sources.
A two-time Member of Parliament, he has also held ministerial positions at the national level, including Minister of State for Textiles (2002-2003) and Minister of State for Railways (2003-2004). Since 2018, he has represented Bijapur City Assembly constituency and has served as MLA twice.
He was suspended in 2015 from the BJP for six years for not withdrawing his nomination as an Independent candidate. In that election, he won along with SR Patil of Congress. He briefly left the party in 2010 to join the Janata Dal (Secular), only to return after failing to secure the party president’s post in the JD(S).
Despite this, Yatnal was re-appointed to the BJP in 2018 on the instructions of senior BJP leaders because of his strong ties with the Lingayat community and his growing influence as a hardline Hindu nationalist would be effective for the BJP in the region. Yatnal continued to push his communal agenda, as he faced pressure from the Muslim community in Vijayapura.
