Reacting to Karnataka outfits seeking a ban on the “monopoly of Muslims” in the fruit business, Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi slammed the state government, stating that it has enabled “brazen mob rule” in the state. He said that this issue was just another excuse to enforce untouchability against Muslims.

He hit out at the Basavaraj-led government and said, “Karnataka govt has enabled brazen mob rule. Mobs are deciding who can sell what, and who can buy from whom. There is no “Muslim monopoly”, it’s just another excuse to enforce untouchability against Muslims.”

The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief said that the Karnataka government was endangering the lives of poor people in the name of ‘jan jagruti.”

Some Hindu outfits in Karnataka, on Tuesday, April 5, had called for the ban of “Muslim monopoly” in the fruit business.

“SPITTING JIHAD”

Chandru Moger, Coordinator of Hindu Janajagruti Samiti in Karnataka, took to Twitter and urged Hindus to buy fruits from Hindu vendors, claiming that most fruit businesses are done by Muslims.

“We are also seeing that they are spitting on fruits and bread before selling it,” said Chandru Moger on Tuesday, April 5. He said that these Muslim businesses are “spitting Jihad”.

He urged more Hindus to get involved in the fruit business to ensure that the “Muslim monopoly” is put to an end.

Hindu right-wing leader Prashanth Sambargi, said that the hard work was done by the Hindu farmers and the benefits were being reaped by the intermediate Muslim vendors.

“We’ve done research on this business cycle and understood that the Hindu farmer is at mercy to the unorganised particular group. To remove this intermediate in the business, we’ve created a campaign,” he said.

“WORK OF FRINGE GROUPS”

BJP leader and Minister of Higher Education in Karnataka, Ashwath Narayan, claimed that this was the work of some fringe groups who were trying to instigate issues.

“There is no question of hating the relationships that have been built over centuries and decades. We have differences, we need to talk to each other and set it right and not continue with hatredness,” he said.

“Our government is completely against this. We are all here for the success of our society and we want everybody to have communal harmony,” said the BJP leader.

Former Karnataka CM, HD Kumaraswamy, reacted by saying, “Muslims buy mangoes grown by farmers and they help farmers grow economically. Muslims buy mangoes grown by Hindus.”

He said that the Hindu outfits’ call to boycott Muslims was a ‘droh’ (betrayal) against the country and its farmers. “Asking people not to buy mangoes or fruits from Muslims is anti-national and anti-farmers. Muslims buy crops from farmers to help the farmers. Farmers are hindus,” said Kumaraswamy.