Non-bailable warrant against Yatnal: 5 times Karnataka BJP MLA caused trouble

A special court in Karnataka has issued a non-bailable warrant against BJP’s firebrand MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal after he failed to appear at a defamation case hearing on Wednesday, October 16.
The case was filed by Tabassum Rao, the wife of Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao, in response to Yatnal’s controversial statement claiming that “half of Pakistan is in Dinesh Gundu Rao’s house”.
Yatnal’s absence from the hearing prompted Judge KN Shivakumar to issue the warrant, with the next hearing scheduled for October 28. The current defamation case is just one amongst the long list of controversies surrounding Yatnal.
This, however, is not the first time Yatnal has stirred the pot with his inflammatory remarks.
In September 2024, Yatnal created a political storm when he alleged that a “great leader” had reserved Rs 1,000 crore in a bid to become Karnataka’s next chief minister. He refused to name the individual, cryptically suggesting that “people know who the great leader is,” while referencing a currency note counting machine reportedly found at the leader’s home.
His claims sparked outrage, with Congress leaders, including Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, threatening to file a formal complaint, accusing the BJP of attempting to destabilise the state government.
Around the same time, Yatnal also drew sharp criticism when he questioned Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s caste during a political rally. He provocatively asked Gandhi to reveal his caste to the public, igniting a caste-based debate in Karnataka.
Yatnal said, “Today, Rahul Gandhi goes to America and makes anti-national statements. He wants to conduct a caste survey, but he doesn’t even know which caste he was born into. He doesn’t know if he was born to Muslims or Christians. That should be investigated.”
These remarks were widely condemned as divisive, with Congress leaders criticising Yatnal for trying to marginalise Gandhi.
Yatnal has also clashed with his own party’s leadership. The Vijayapura MLA has repeatedly, time and again, taken digs at former Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa and his family.
In December 2023, Yatnal made headlines by accusing Yediyurappa of misusing the pandemic for personal financial gain. Yatnal alleged that Yediyurappa had “cashed in huge” during the COVID-19 crisis, causing significant internal strife within the BJP and straining his relationship with influential party members.
Adding to his list of controversies, Yatnal recently organised a massive protest against the Waqf Act in Vijayapura on October 16. The protest, held near Siddeshwara Temple, included participation from Waqf victims and farmers who had received notices from the Waqf Department. Alongside BJP leaders like MLC CT Ravi and Namo Brigade founder Chakravarthy Sulibele, Yatnal called for the repeal of the Waqf Act. He has also scheduled a “Waqf Hatao, Desh Bachao” rally for November 6. However, Muslim leaders have warned Yatnal to retract his anti-Muslim rhetoric or face exposure, threatening to release incriminating evidence against him.
Yatnal, known for his repeated anti-Muslim remarks, has intensified religious tensions in Vijayapura, a region already sensitive to communal divides. His history of controversial statements has fuelled unrest and discontent amongst various communities, establishing him as one of Karnataka’s most polarising political figures.