Described as "temperamental", Simha's tenure as an MP was marked by several controversies. He was a vocal against [[government of Karnataka]]'s birthday celebrations of [[Tipu Sultan]] starting 2015. He voiced that Sultan could be a "role model only for Islamists" and that the Chief Minister [[Siddaramaiah]] was "encouraging [[Jihadist]]s" in the State.<ref>{{cite news|title=BJP MP Pratap Simha opposes Tipu Jayanti, says Tipu can be a role model only for Islamists|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/tipu-sultan-jayanti-tyranny-mysuru-vhp-rss-bjp-mp-pratap-simha-1070201-2017-10-23|accessdate=11 January 2018|work=India Today|date=23 October 2017}}</ref> In 2017, against this backdrop, and police's prohibitory orders against taking procession of [[Hanuman Jayanti]]'s organizers in [[Hunsur]], a town in his constituency, Simha was arrested after he violated the prohibitory orders.<ref>{{cite news|title=Pratap Simha among several arrested in Hunsur ahead of Hanuma Jayanthi|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/pratap-simha-among-several-arrested-in-hunsur-ahead-of-hanuma-jayanthi/article21253923.ece|accessdate=11 January 2018|work=The Hindu|date=3 December 2017}}</ref> In a widely circulated video, he was seen subsequently threatening the police officials and questioning their intent of "restricting" celebration of festivals of the [[Hindu]] faith,<ref name="news18"/> and barging through the barricade in his car.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Sayeed|first=Vikhar Ahmed|title=Polarisation game|url=http://www.frontline.in/the-nation/polarisation-game/article10008832.ece|magazine=[[Frontline (magazine)|Frontline]]|issue=18 January 2018|accessdate=11 January 2018}}</ref>
In February 2017, Simha received criticism after he compared Gurmehar Kaur, a student of [[Delhi University]] who spoke against the [[Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad]], a student body affiliated to the [[Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh]].<ref>{{cite news|title=BJP MP Pratap Simha compares DU student Gurmehar Kaur with Dawood|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2017/feb/27/bjp-mp-pratap-simha-compares-du-student-gurmehar-kaur-with-dawood-1575379.html|accessdate=11 January 2018|work=The New Indian Express|date=27 February 2017}}</ref>
