BJP leader alleges Congress’s role in love jihad case

Pic: Basavaraj KyavaterKoppal: A political controversy has erupted in Koppal after former BJP functionary Basavaraj Kyavater alleged that the Congress party and the state govt are directly involved in a ‘love jihad' case reported from Alavandi village in the taluk.In a press statement, Kyavater claimed that incidents targeting Hindu girls in the name of love are on the rise across the state. He alleged that such acts are being carried out in an organised manner, exploiting the trust of young women and adversely affecting their lives.Referring to recent incidents, he stated that within the past week, three such cases were reported in Hubballi and one in Koppal. He further alleged that such cases tend to increase whenever the Congress comes to power, raising suspicions of indirect support from party leaders.Highlighting the Koppal case, Kyavater said two mobile phones seized from the accused, identified as Mustafa Khadri of Kampli, of Alavandi Hobli, reportedly contained a large volume of objectionable material.According to him, one phone had around 3,000 photos and 6,000 videos, while the other contained about 4,000 photos and 3,700 videos. He further alleged that these included obscene visuals involving 16 women from the Hindu community, describing the development as alarming.Despite what he termed as substantial evidence, Kyavater questioned why the accused was not yet arrested. He alleged that pressure from local Congress legislators and MPs could be a possible reason for the delay and called for a comprehensive and impartial investigation into the matter.Demanding strict action, Kyavater called on authorities to take immediate and stringent measures against those involved in such cases and to ensure justice for the victims.However, Koppal MP K Rajashekar Hitnal, on Tuesday, denied the allegations made by Basavaraj Kyavator, dismissing them as baseless and politically motivated. He remarked that BJP leaders are raising ‘love jihad' claims as they have no other issues to focus on.He stated that the police are already investigating the matter and that conclusions should be drawn only after the probe is completed.Questioning the narrative, he asked whether every case involving Hindu and Muslim individuals should be termed ‘love jihad,' adding that many such cases are routinely seen in police stations. In a sarcastic remark, he suggested that Kyavater could instead visit police stations and act as a mediator.