The Karnataka unit of the BJP on Tuesday filed a complaint with the Director General of Police seeking directions to book Congress leaders for allegedly insulting Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot during the protests against him on Monday.

The petition sought action against Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda, Housing Minister B Z Zameer Ahmed, Congress MLC Ivan D’Souza and others, and urged the police to arrest them under sections of the SC/ST and Goonda Acts for the remarks made against the Governor. Apart from these laws, the Congress leaders should be booked under section 151 (assaulting President or Governor) and 152 (Acts endangering sovereignty, unity and integrity of India) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Samhita for insulting the Governor, the BJP said.

“Cases of caste abuse should be filed against Congress leaders for issuing defamatory statements in public against the Governor who belongs to a Scheduled Caste community. Such remarks are sensitive and could provoke sections of society,” the petition read.

D’Souza’s Monday comments, where he had said that the Governor would suffer the fate as Bangladesh PM, was highlighted in the complaint. While Gowda is accused of “abusing” the Governor, Khan is accused of saying that the Governor will be responsible if the law and order situation deteriorates in the state.

Following the complaint, Leader of Opposition R Ashok tweeted asking whether Congress was targeting the Governor “because he is a Dalit?” He added that the “Congress has a long history of hating and targeting Dalits”.

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