Congress lawmaker B.K. Hariprasad has put his party’s government in Karnataka in a quandary by questioning the rationale of sending police officers to question him over his recent warning that a “Godhra-like” incident could happen in the state ahead of the Ram temple consecration, asking: "Is this a Congress government or an RSS-led government?"

Hariprasad said he was surprised when a police officer visited him on Friday and sought information on his comment where he expressed fears about a communal incident tantamount to the Godhra train arson that killed several kar sevaks who were returning from Ayodhya in 2002.

“Is this a Congress government or an RSS-led government? I am unable to figure out which government is this,” the outspoken member of the Legislative Council (MLC) told reporters.

“I thought there was a Congress government in Karnataka. But now, I need to rethink,” he said, in a stinging remark against the party’s government.

“If this is the situation a man like me who has worked for the Congress for so many years has to face, one can only imagine the plight of an ordinary party worker,” Hariprasad said.

A former Rajya Sabha member, Hariprasad had recently urged the Karnataka government to take adequate steps to avert any possible “Godhra-like” incident in the state that could trigger a major communal strife. The train burning eventually led to the Gujarat riots that left thousands dead.

“The Karnataka government should be extremely alert because during a similar occasion in Gujarat, kar sevaks were set on fire in Godhra while returning from Ayodhya,” Hariprasad had said.

“A Godhra-like attempt could be made here. So no chance should be given for such an untoward incident in Karnataka. All arrangements should be made for those who want to go to Ayodhya as we don’t want to see another Godhra in Karnataka,” he had warned.

Hariprasad on Friday repeated his earlier statement and once again urged the government to deploy adequate security measures for pilgrims from the state heading to Ayodhya for Monday’s consecration.

Karnataka home minister G. Parameshwar downplayed the police probe and said it was a routine inquiry made on account of Hariprasad’s recent statement. “It is a routine inquiry,” he said.

A former AICC general secretary and a prominent face of the backward classes, Hariprasad was miffed at being ignored for a cabinet berth last year.

The AICC had served him a showcause notice in September 2023 for his scathing attack on chief minister Siddaramiah, albeit without taking his name. “You cannot call yourself a socialist by wearing a dhoti, Hublot watch and (yet have) khaki shorts (a symbol of the RSS) inside,” Hariprasad had said.

A Congress functionary on Saturday expressed angst at a senior leader like Hariprasad making remarks against the government. “He should realise that every word matters ahead of the Lok Sabha polls,” said the leader, who declined to be named. But he wasn’t sure if the party was considering disciplinary action against Hariprasad, and said it was best to let the issue die down.