Congress MP Naseer Hussain at heart of ‘pro-Pak’ slogan row from a family of freedom fighters

Congress Karnataka leader Syed Naseer Hussain who finds himself fighting off BJP allegations of being “anti-national”, is a student leader from Jawaharlal Nehru University, former political science teacher, and now a two-time Rajya Sabha MP, who once asked the BJP government in Parliament whether it would investigate the role of a tech app in spreading misinformation during the anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act protests.

As per the BJP, Hussain’s supporters shouted‘Pakistan Zindabad’ slogans in celebration after he won the Rajya Sabha elections on February 27. The BJP had failed to get a second seat in the polls, with the nominee of its ally JD(S) losing.

On Monday, the Karnataka Police announced the arrest of three people in connection with the alleged slogans. The arrests were made soon after theBJP claimed that a forensic test by a private lab had proved the allegations to be correct.

Known as suave and soft-spoken, with a doctorate in politics and philosophy, Hussain hails from a family belonging to the impoverished district of Ballary, with links to the freedom struggle.

Soon after the controversy broke out last week, Hussain pointed to this: “If anyone thinks they are more patriotic, they should know that I come from a freedom fighter’s family… I don’t want lessons in patriotism and nationalism from people who try to divide the people of this country. They are the ones who are really anti-national.”

In an interview, Hussain told The Indian Express: “What does Pakistan have to do with a Rajya Sabha election in Karnataka? There is no meaning, no occasion, no connection… nothing… Even if somebody is seriously claiming that it was recorded and all, the law should take its own course.”

After having briefly taught political