Karnataka BJP calls Ramachandra Guha an urban naxal, says he operates in dark world

The Karnataka unit of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday sparked fresh controversy with its tweet against historian Ramchandra Guha calling him an "Urban Naxal".

This comes two days after Ramchandra Guha was detained near Town Hall in Bengaluru amid nationwide protests against an amended citizenship law that critics believe is anti-Muslim.

The official Twitter account of BJP Karnataka, while taking a jibe at the historian, tweeted, "Q: Who are you? A: I am @Ram_Guha (Ramachandra Guha). #UrbanNaxals who operate in a Dark World are completely unknown to the Common Man".

"They [Read Urban Naxals] make their presence felt through inciting



violence & organizing protests at the behest of their Masters. They are getting exposed now," the tweet further stated.

Ramchandra Guha and others were detained for protesting against the Citizenship Amendment Act as well as the NRC, a controversial citizenship verification drive, in defiance of prohibitory orders.

Guha, 61, said in response to his detention that it was "absolutely undemocratic" that the police weren't allowing even a peaceful protest, a democratic right of citizens.

A video shows Ramachandra Guha holding a poster that reads, "CAA [Citizenship Amendment Act] against Constitution", and arguing with city police as they take him away.