New Delhi, Sep 28 (IANS): The Congress, the principal opposition party in Karnataka, has sought the sacking of the newly appointed BJP youth wing president Tejasvi Surya who on Sunday said that Bengaluru has become a terror hub.

Congress state President DK Shivakumar in a tweet said, "BJP MP Tejasvi Surya calling Bengaluru, a global city known for Technology and Innovation, as an epicentre of terror is highly condemnable. GDP growth has crashed and with such statements, which investor will come to Bengaluru & Karnataka? Will PM and FM answer."

Congress leader B K Hariprasad, who lost to Surya in the Lok Sabha polls, said he is just trying to please his masters and alleged that Surya's statement casts aspersions on the chief minister.

"Wonder what Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa and Home Minister B Bommai have to say about their own MP Tejasvi Surya calling Bengaluru an epic centre of terror activities. Besides denting Bengaluru's image as an investors destination this is also an indirect attack on Yediyurappa" he said.

Another leader Rajeev Gowda said, "I am deeply pained that an MP representing Bengaluru is denigrating Namma Ooru with baseless allegations. Such irresponsible statements impact people's lives and besmirch our city's reputation."

Gowda said, "To curry favour with your Boss, don't unleash divisive agendas that disrupt our harmony."

Tejasvi Surya, the new chief of the BJP's youth wing, had said that Bengaluru has become the "epicentre of terror activities".

While his tweet on the matter has drawn attacks on social media, with many pointing out that Karnataka is ruled by the BJP, the opposition Congress has said the BJP should sack the new youth wing leader.

CM plays down Tejasvi Surya's 'Bluru a terror hub' remark

Playing down newly appointed Bharatiya Yuva Morcha President Tejasvi ASurya's remarks, Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa on Monday asserted that Surya's remarks have been taken out of context, and what he possibly meant was terror activities are on the rise.

Speaking to reporters here, Yediyurappa said, "It is not correct to say that Bengaluru has become a terror hub. Even he (Surya) might not have meant that way. He may have said that terror activities are on the rise."

In response to a question, the CM asserted that the demand to set up the premier investigation agency, the National Investigation Agency, in Bengaluru is being made for the last three years.

"I have requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi thrice in as many years. Demand to set up NIA in Bengaluru is not new. We need it here," he explained.

Meanwhile, launching a scathing attack on the BJP, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President D.K. Shivakumar said that Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya is bringing more disrepute to Bengaluru than anyone could have possibly imagined.

"I am surprised to know that he calls himself a nationalist. His statements against our city are nothing but slanderous and ill motivated. He is young and should think twice before making any statement," he said, adding that he would like to remind Suraya that Bengaluru is known as the garden city or the IT hub across the globe, and not as terrorism hub as he put it.

Quoting late Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpyee, Shivakumar said that Vajapayee himself had told in his speech that Bengaluru has become an IT hub and many global invitees prefer to land in Bengaluru first and then come to Delhi.

"This is the statement made by a BJP veteran, Vajpayeeji. Let him (Surya) at least remember his party veterans' speeches," he said.