'Separate nation' remark: BJP members protest outside Congress MP D K Suresh's residence

This comes after DK Suresh on Thursday claimed that taxes collected from the South were being distributed to North India and that the former was not getting its due share. He added that Southern states would be forced to demand a 'separate nation' if the 'injustice' was not rectified.

Bengaluru: Several members of the BJP gathered outside the residence of Congress MP DK Suresh here on Sunday to protest his recent statement that southern states would be forced to demand for a separate nation if the 'injustice' in distribution of funds is not rectified by the Centre. Protesters were heard shouting slogans 'Vande Mataram', 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai', 'down down D K Suresh' outside his residence in Sadashivanagar here.

However, the agitators were soon removed from the spot by the police and shifted into a bus, police said. Suresh is the brother of Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and state Congress President D K Shivakumar.

"A group of members from the BJP had gathered outside the residence of the Congress MP. They tried to stage a protest there against his statement over demand for a separate nation for southern states. But our officials immediately removed them from the spot and took them into custody. The situation is under control," a senior police officer said.

Suresh, who represents the Bangalore Rural Lok Sabha constituency, had also alleged that Hindi was being ‘imposed’ on South India in every aspect. Reacting to the protests, Suresh said in a democracy everyone has the right to protest and freedom of speech.

"... I happily welcome their protests... May god bless them," he told reporters here. Accusing the BJP of trying to 'distort' his statement, the lone Lok Sabha member of Congress in Karnataka said, "I never said this country has to be divided, they (BJP) are moving in that direction, they are trying to do politics."

Asked why BJP is trying to twist his statement, Suresh said, "you (media) should ask them... Media which is showing my statement has to go through it and speak. I don't know whether it is media's mistake or BJP's or mine."

"I believe that media is the fourth estate in a democracy, if you say no we are in favour of one side, I can't do anything," he said, adding that his statement is very clear and it is being distorted by the BJP.