Daijiworld Media Network – Sullia (SP)

Sullia, Mar 30: A case of delivering public speech that was aimed at whipping up communal passions was registered in the police station here against five persons on Friday March 29.

The complainant  has mentioned the names of the state convener of Hindu Jagran Vedike, Jagadish Karant, who delivered the speech, and four other organizers, in the complaint. They have been accused of delivering communally provocative addresses aimed at spoiling communal harmony prevailing among Hindus and Muslims.

Muhammed Uzaif, a resident of Sampaje Dandakaje, filed this complaint. He has identified the erring persons as Dr Leeladhar, Subrahmanya Upadhyaya, Balachandra Kalagi and K P Jagadish, apart from Karant. The first four are organizers of Hindu Samajotsava on March 24 this year at Kallugundi near here.

Karant already faces a similar case registered against him, MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, and others in 2009, relating to fiery speeches said to have been delivered by them in Sullia. Hearing in that case is yet to be completed.

Reacting to the case, BJP and its Yuva Morcha have accused the concerned of hoisting false cases against Jagadish Karant and others. "Karant had raised the genuine issues of atrocities on Hindus in Jammu and Kashmir, victimization of Hindu women, religious conversion of Hindu girls in the name of love, etc. The police have regisered cases against Karant and organizers of the programme for conveying the reality to the people. We condemn this action. In a democratic set up, freedom of speech cannot be taken away. This is an organized plan to snatch freedom of Hindus," said BJP Mandala committee president, Venkat Dambekody, and Yuva Morcha president, Muralikrishna Kalmadka, in a statement.

 They also urged the police to withdraw the case, failing which they said the party will organize protests all over the taluk.