Daijiworld Media Network - Mysuru
Mysuru, Feb 22: Karnataka Police have filed an FIR against former BJP MP Pratap Simha on Saturday following his controversial remarks about Muslims in relation to the attack on a police station in Mysuru.
The FIR was filed by Udayagiri police after a complaint was lodged by Syed Abrar, the president of the Youth Congress.
In his complaint, Abrar claimed that Simha made derogatory statements against Muslims, implying that they were not true citizens of India and accusing them of contributing to population growth. “Pratap Simha's remarks are intended to provoke disharmony between Hindus and Muslims. His comments are offensive, and legal action should be taken against him,” Abrar stated.
Earlier, Pratap Simha had said that Muslims should have left India during the Partition and that they have stayed behind without contributing positively, merely increasing their population. Simha, a well-known proponent of Hindutva, has been involved in controversies in the past due to his remarks.
The unrest in Mysuru began after an objectionable social media post was shared by an individual named Satish, also known as Panduranga, a resident of Kalyannagar.
The post, which ridiculed Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi, former Chief Ministers Akhilesh Yadav and Arvind Kejriwal, also contained provocative communal statements targeting a specific religious group. The post went viral, sparking tensions in the area.
In response, a group of individuals from the minority community gathered in front of the Udayagiri Police Station, demanding action against the accused. Despite efforts by the police to pacify the crowd, including the intervention of religious leaders, the situation quickly spiralled into violence. The mob pelted stones at the police station and attacked the official vehicle of the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP).
As the situation grew more intense, the police were compelled to use lathi-charges and tear gas to disperse the rioting crowd.
In light of the events, the Rashtra Suraksha Jan Andolan Samiti and the BJP have announced plans for a large convention in Mysuru on February 24 to protest the Karnataka government's perceived inaction in handling the police station attack case.
So far, 17 individuals, including an Islamic religious teacher accused of delivering provocative “hate speech,” have been arrested in connection with the attack on the Udayagiri police station.