Islamophobic Remarks :

Hindu far-right politician Nalin Kumar Kateel hails from the southern state of Karnataka. He is a well-known Islamophobe and outspoken opponent of Muslims. He promotes conspiracies against minorities of Muslims.

After the gruesome death of an Imam at Choori in the Karnataka town of Kasargod in 2017, his name came to light. The Muhyudheen mosque’s imam, Riyas Moulavi, was killed by a gang of individuals on March 20, 2017.

The day before, Kateel made an inflammatory speech in which he pleaded with the Hindus to exact revenge for the murder of a Hindu called Suhas.

Kateel frequently spews hate speech toward Muslims. In January 2023, he said, “Road, gutter, drain and other small issues, If the issue concerning your children’s lives — love jihad — has to be stopped, then we need the BJP (to form the government).” This was at the launch of “Booth Vijay Abhiyaan,” organized to train party cadres in constituencies of Mangaluru city for the upcoming elections.

In February 2023, Kateel claimed that the state’s upcoming assembly election will be all about “Tipu vs. Savarkar.”

(Tipu Sultan was the Muslim ruler of Mysore who ruled in the 18th century and perished while defending his country against British colonizers. Savarkar created the Hindutva political philosophy, a form of Hindu nationalism. He was a prominent member of the Hindu Mahasabha, an extremist Hindu group. He wrote numerous mercy letters to the British when imprisoned during India’s liberation struggle, pleading for his life.)

“We adore Anjaneya (Hanuman) and Rama. We complete Anjaneya’s assignments. We are not related to Tipu Sultan. Kateel announced to the crowd that they would be taking the children of Tipu home. As the throng cheered, Kateel remarked, “I want to ask the people of Yalaburga – whether you worship Anjaneya or chant praises of Tipu Sultan. Will you not expel those praising Tipu from the forest?