Bangalore South BJP Lok Sabha MP Tejasvi Surya has drawn flak from many after he referred to people opposing the new Citizenship law and the proposed NRC as “illiterates and puncture-wallahs” at a pro-CAA rally in Bengaluru Sunday.
“People of Bengaluru’s IT and BT sector, those contributing to the nation’s economy, like lawyers, bank employees, and ordinary citizens — including auto-rickshaw drivers — have gathered here today. Only the uneducated, illiterate, and puncture-wallahs are against the CAA,” Surya said at the rally, held at Sir Puttana Chetty Town Hall in the city.
Want to know what privilege sounds like?
— Srivatsa (@srivatsayb) December 23, 2019
MP @Tejasvi_Surya, who hails from a rich political family, mocks CAA protestors as ILLITERATES and PUNCTURE WALAS
Are the poor not supposed to protest now?
Such crass elitism is unbecoming of a parliamentarianpic.twitter.com/Ijn3vuYLGB
Surya also said “namby-pamby secularism had no place in new India”. “We are creating a new India, a $5-trillion economy. Your namby-pamby secularism will not work here anymore,” the MP said.
Among India’s youngest parliamentarians, the 29-year-old lawyer was seen making these remarks to loud cheers. However, as his video went viral Monday, many criticised Surya for exhibiting “crass elitism”.
Indian Youth Congress leader Srivatsa Y B wrote on Twitter, “Want to know what privilege sounds like? MP @Tejasvi_Surya, who hails from a rich political family, mocks CAA protestors as ILLITERATES and PUNCTURE WALAS. Are the poor not supposed to protest now? Such crass elitism is unbecoming of a parliamentarian,” sharing a video of Surya’s speech.
Tejasvi Surya is just a privileged Amul Baby.
— Advaid (@Advaidism) December 23, 2019
The PM always brags about his humble chaiwala background and his MP's mock protesting citizens as illiterates & Puncture walas.
23 crores Indians go to bed on an empty stomach daily. Imagine if they all rise up??
Surya had made a surprise appearance at the rally, titled ‘India Supports CAA’. The organisers of the rally said they were “like-minded social activists and citizens” with no links to any political organisation.