Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Apr 28: Tejasvi Surya, BJP National Youth Wing president and Bengaluru South MP, has strongly criticized the Karnataka government for its inadequate compensation to the families of two victims killed in a terrorist attack in Pahalgam. Surya, who is also the National President of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), expressed disappointment that the government had failed to offer adequate financial support, despite the horrific nature of the attack.
Surya stated, “If the Karnataka government had even a hint of humanity, it would have given at least Rs 1 crore as compensation to each of the victims’ families. If such an amount had been placed in a fixed deposit, the families could have supported themselves and educated their children with the interest alone.” He pointed out that chief minister Siddaramaiah, had provided Rs 15 lac to the families of victims killed in an elephant attack in Kerala, highlighting the disparity in the response to the two incidents.
Addressing a press conference at the BJP state headquarters ‘Jagannath Bhavan’ in Bengaluru, Surya added that it was unrealistic to expect better from a Congress government, which he accused of prioritizing Muslim votes over the welfare of the victims. “It is the duty of the Hindu community to come forward and support these families,” he emphasized.
Surya also announced that the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) had organized a torchlight rally in Bengaluru South to condemn the terrorist attack, during which they raised funds for the victims. “So far, we have collected around Rs 20 lac from the public, and the BJP will soon provide Rs 10 lac and one rupee each to the families of Bharat Bhushan and Manjunath,” he said.
In addition to financial support, Surya shared that R.V. University had agreed to cover the full educational expenses of Pallavi Manjunath’s son, Abhijaya, up to his postgraduate degree. He also revealed that Transcend, an educational institution on Kanakapura Road, would provide free CBSE education to Bharat Bhushan’s three-year-old child, starting from 1st grade.
Furthermore, Mahaveer Jain Hospital in Bengaluru has pledged to provide healthcare services for both families for the next 11 years. Surya expressed his gratitude to all these institutions for their support.
The BJP leader stressed that Hindu religious trusts, philanthropists, and industrialists across the state must step up to assist the grieving families. He also took a strong stance against the Karnataka government’s meager compensation, which he felt was an insult to the victims. “The terrorists didn’t just attack the Government of India; they targeted the entire Hindu community,” Surya said, questioning the Chief Minister's decision to offer only Rs 10 lac.
Surya pointed out the long-term impact on the victims’ families, highlighting that Manjunath’s son, who had scored 97 percent in his PU exams, still has years of education ahead, while Bharat Bhushan’s child will require support for at least 25 years. He condemned the terrorists' targeted attack on Hindus in Pahalgam, stating that the victims were specifically chosen for their religion, not as random tourists.
Surya criticized those in the state and the country who refuse to acknowledge the targeted nature of the killings, even as the victims’ families openly shared their experiences. He also referred to the remarks by Asaduddin Owaisi, who acknowledged that the victims were targeted because of their religion, contrasting this with the Congress leadership’s refusal to accept this reality.
The press conference was also attended by BJP state spokespersons Ashok Gowda, Mohan Vishwa, and Surabhi Hodigere.