Karnataka Police on Wednesday registered an FIR against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Yashpal Suvarna after he allegedly threatened that Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi's family would be “destroyed” in the same way the Babri Masjid was demolished in 1992. The remarks, made at a BJP public programme in Udupi, have set off a sharp political storm in Karnataka.

What Suvarna Said

Addressing the BJP gathering in Udupi, Suvarna reportedly declared: “If you continue to enact such dramas, just as our party workers destroyed the Babri Masjid in 1992 when our sentiments were hurt, the Congress dynasty and Rahul Gandhi’s family will likewise be destroyed.” Video clips of the speech spread rapidly on social media, triggering immediate demands for legal action against the legislator.

FIR Registered, Multiple Sections Invoked

The FIR was filed at the Udupi Town Police Station on the basis of a complaint lodged by Ashok Kumar Kodavoor, president of the Udupi District Congress Committee. Police have invoked Sections 57, 192, 196(2), 352, 353(2), and 351(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) against Suvarna. The sections cover offences related to promoting enmity, making statements conducive to public mischief, and criminal intimidation.

Congress Demands Strict Action

Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) Working President and Member of the Legislative Council, Manjunatha Bhandary, said the state government had taken the matter seriously and would ensure strict action in accordance with the law. He described Suvarna’s statements as “hateful, derogatory and provocative” and said they were unbecoming of a public representative bound by a constitutional oath.

Bhandary also criticised other BJP legislators who were present at the event for remaining silent. “The silence of other elected representatives present at the programme may be construed by the public as tacit support for such statements,” he said, adding that political differences cannot justify defamation, hate speech, or threats.

Political Context and Communal Concerns

Congress leaders alleged that the BJP was attempting to divert public attention from the NEET question paper leak controversy and the nationwide protests it triggered, by targeting Rahul Gandhi through personal attacks. Bhandary further warned that the remarks posed a threat to communal harmony and law and order, particularly in the coastal Karnataka region, which has a history of communal tension. He indicated he would raise the matter with the State Home Minister to seek directions for expediting the investigation.

What Happens Next

With the FIR now registered, police are expected to record statements and examine the viral video clips as primary evidence. The case is likely to intensify political friction between the ruling Congress and the BJP in Karnataka, with the coastal belt—already a sensitive zone—under close watch. Legal observers note that the BNS sections invoked carry provisions for both cognisable and non-bailable offences, raising the prospect of Suvarna’s arrest if the investigation progresses.