A victory slogan raised by Congress workers after Tuesday’s Rajya Sabha polls has sparked a huge controversy in Karnataka with the BJP alleging “Pakistan Zindabad” was chanted inside the Vidhana Soudha that has both Houses of the state legislature.

The Congress’s winning candidate, Syed Naseer Hussain, refuted the allegation and said those surrounding him had shouted “Naseer Khan Zindabad” and “Naseer Saab Zindabad”.

Hussain was one of the three Congress candidates elected to the Rajya Sabha, against the lone seat won by the BJP.

State IT minister Priyank Kharge on Wednesday clarified that a “forensic examination” done by the Congress of the viral video clip disproved the allegation, but added the government was waiting for the police report. “The party has done an audio forensic check and it is found there is nothing like that,” he told reporters.

But none of that explanation mattered to the BJP, whose leaders went hammer and tongs against the ruling Congress even after the chief minister and his cabinet colleagues assured strict action if anyone was found to have erred. An FIR has already been registered.

Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka questioned the reason for a supporter of Hussain turning around and covering the mouth of a slogan-shouting youngster. “Why did he cover his mouth if he (the youth) had not said anything?” the BJP leader asked.

The chief whip of the BJP in the Assembly, Doddangowda Patil, and Legislative Council member Ravikumar have also lodged a police complaint.

Protests broke out across the state as thousands of BJP workers hit the streets demanding the immediate arrest of the “traitors”.