Karnataka's primary and secondary education minister Tanveer Sait was on Thursday caught on a local TV camera allegedly watching obscene photographs of women on his mobile during the official celebrations of Tipu Sultan Jayanti at Raichur.
Sait is the fourth minister from Karnataka to be accused of watching porn in public. In February 2012, three BJP ministers C. C. Patil, Lakshmana Savadi and Krishna Palemar had to step down following opposition's ante against them after they were captured on TV camera allegedly watching porn inside the Karnataka Assembly.
This time, the ruling Congress, which had gone ahead with its plan to celebrate the controversial Mysore ruler on November 10, amid stiff opposition from the BJP, finds itself cornered. The saffron party dubbed Tipu as a bigot and declared the day as a black day.
While the minister claimed that he was only scrolling on his phone for updates on his constituency(Mysuru), the BJP has threatened to launch a statewide protest if Sait is not sacked.
"Sad, Tipu failed to inspire Tanveer Sait. He was caught watching obscene photos while on the dais. This government has no great respect for Tipu, but is playing votebank politics. Now, why should any government celebrate a Jayanti of a controversial figure spending Rs 18 crore amid tight security?", asks BJP spokesperson Tejaswini Ramesh.
BJP state president B.S. Yeddyurappa tweeted, "Karnataka's Edu Minister Sh.Tanveer Sait should be sacked immediately who was caught on camera watching pictures which were allegedly porn."
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who was the leader of the opposition in 2012, had pointed out that the BJP ministers had violated IPC Section 292 and 293 that bans public viewing of pornographic films and also demanded their ouster.
An upset Siddaramaiah on Thursday told reporters that he had sought a report from the deputy commissioner and would act only after the report was out.
