A single judge bench of Justice Hemant Chandangoudar sitting at Kalaburagi quashed the proceedings stating, “Section 196 of Cr.P.C. specifies that no Court shall take cognizance of an offence punishable under Section 153-A of IPC and Section 295-A of IPC, except the previous sanction of the State Government. In the instant case, the learned Magistrate has taken the cognizance for the aforesaid offences without there being previous sanction by the State Government. Hence, in the absence of previous sanction, the cognizance taken by the learned Magistrate for the above said offences, is one without authority of law.” (Para 9-10)

According to the police charge sheet, the accused was the chief guest on an event organised on the occasion of Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti and the inauguration of the Sri Ram Sene’s office on February 25, 2017. The accused allegedly made offensive remarks while addressing the crowd in the presence of a Police Sub Inspector, who was the complainant, and three constables. He allegedly stated that those who murder the cow must have their hands cut.

After accepting the charge-sheet, the Magistrate had taken cognizance of the aforementioned offenses and issued summons.

During the hearing, the petitioner-accused had sought for quashing of charges, arguing that the Magistrate’s cognizance for the aforementioned offenses, in the absence of sanction as stipulated in Section 196 of the Cr.P.C., is one without legal authority. Furthermore, it was asserted that the testimonies of the independent witnesses were not recorded, and that in the absence of any material to prove the claims against the accused, the charge-sheet submitted on the basis of the police witnesses’ statements is devoid of substance.

The said plea was opposed by the prosecution. However, after having perused the charge sheet, the bench said “Except the statements of the police personnel, the statements of independent eyewitnesses have not been recorded. Though the statement of the person who is alleged to have video graphed the function is recorded, no data is retrieved from the video camera to substantiate that the accused has made inflammatory statements.” (Para 8)

In accordance to these observations, the Court quashed the proceedings.

The order can be read as follows:

Previous proceedings against Muthalik that had resulted in acquittal due to lack of evidence

In the year 2018, a local court had acquitted Pramod Muthalik and 30 others in the pub attack case of January 2009 for want of evidence. Citing lack of evidence from the prosecution, the magistrate had acquitted Muthalik and 30 others belonging to the said organisation of Sri Ram Sene, who had been charged by then BJP government in the state.

This acquittal had sent shockwaves as the violent attack on the men and women in the Mangaluru pub had happened in broad daylight and the entire episode was filmed. Sri Ram Sene, then a non-descript Hindu chauvinistic outfit, had even claimed the responsibility for the attack. Over 30 Sri Ram Sene activists had allegedly barged into the pub on January 24, 2009, and assaulted the women and men, claiming they were violating traditional Indian values. The incident had generated national outrage after the video clip of the attack went viral. It depicted several men allegedly dragging women at the pub by their hair, slapping and roughing them up and accusing them of “loose morals”.

Who is to be blamed for this quashing of charges?

In the current case, even after an FIR has been filed, based on which a charge sheet had been submitted, the proceedings could not be sustained due to the statements of independent eyewitnesses not being recorded and no data being retrieved from the video graphed speech to substantiate that the accused has made inflammatory statements. Even though this essentially does not mean that no inflammatory, derogatory and offensive statements were made by the accused, a lacunae in the performance of duties led to justice being denied and the accused getting their name cleared. Who should be blamed for the non-deliverance of justice in this case? The quashing of the case against Pramod Muthalik, a hate speaker who is known for targeting the religious minority communities of India and instigating Hindu youth to commit acts of violence, shows the sorry state of our criminal justice system, and will only lead to the accused giving more inflammatory statements with impunity.

But the question that arises is whether any action would have been taken against Muthalik, which has the right-wing forces supporting him, even if the statements had been recorded? In the beginning of this year only, citizens, majorly women, had stated a protest in front of the office of the Director General of Police (DGP), Karnataka, demanding for his arrest after he had made a highly derogatory and violent anti-women statement. In February, in his speech, Pramod Muthalik had urged Hindu men to “get 10 Muslim girls for losing one Hindu girl to Love-Jihad”, and declared that such Hindu men would be provided security and employment by his organisation. With evocative banners, women protesters have raised questions regarding the inaction of the police against hate speeches. Citizens had called for the filing of a suo moto FIR against Muthalik, reminding the senior Karnataka police officer of the Supreme Court’s guidelines on hate speech, which state that police can take suo moto action against those who incite hatred through their speeches. Notably, no action was taken even then.

It is to be seen if the newly elected Karnataka government that has vowed to tackle hate speech and divisive politics seeks to correct the lacunae in prosecution and proceed with cases against Muthalik in the near future.

Related:

Worship Swords instead of books or pens: Pramod Muthalik

Pramod Muthalik stirs the Hanuman Chalisa vs Azaan pot

Demolish Gadag Jumma Masjid to build Venkateshwara temple: Pramod Muthalik

Women protest at Karnataka DGP headquarters, say ‘Why no action against Muthalik?’

Get 10 Muslim girls for losing 1 Hindu girl, says Sri Ram Sene in Karnataka

Karnataka: Controversy over decision to build colleges for Muslim girls

The post Karnataka HC: Proceedings against Pramod Muthalik for delivering offensive statement quashed appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Days after the Hindutva extremist leader and head of the Sri Ram Sena Pramod Muthalik urged Hindu men to “get 10 Muslim girls for losing one Hindu girl to Love-Jihad, and declared that such Hindu men would be provided security and employment by his organisation, ordinary citizens protested outside the office of Director General of Police (DGP), Praveen Sood, protesting against the derogatory comment made by Muthalik. With evocative banners, women protesters have raised questions regarding the inaction of the police against hate speeches.

Citizens also displayed numerous placards calling for the filing of a suo moto FIR against Muthalik, reminding the senior Karnataka police officer of the Supreme Court’s guidelines on hate speech, which state that police can take suo moto action against those who incite hatred through their speeches. The placard said “Who is stopping DGP Karnataka police (from) comply (ing) with SC Guidelines?” 

Protesters displayed and shared on social media a questionnaire addressed to the DGP, available in English and Kannada, which included eight questions.

Alt News co-founder and fact checker, Mohammed Zubair, also posted a series of tweets about the protest, urging the Karnataka police to take action against Muthalik. He tweeted, “DGP & other government officials very well know where these hate speeches are going on & the districts it’s going on in. It is the responsibility of DGP to safeguard the citizens of this state and to prevent any kind of violence rising out of this hate speeches.”

His tweets can be read here:

“DGP & other govt officials very well know where these hate speeches are going on & the districts it’s going on in.. It is the responsibility of DGP to safeguard the citizens of this state & to prevent any kind of violence rising out of this hate speeches”#ArrestPramodMuthalik pic.twitter.com/5wN1LtoBDL

— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) February 21, 2023

Weaponisation of women bodies- a tactic of revenge in this men’s world

Another placard was displayed by the citizens, saying “Does the police think women’s bodies from one community to another are for exchange?” Another poster read “While Sri Ram Sene offers support those who target Muslim women, how can women feel safe in the state? What are you going to do about this DGP Karnataka?”

This brought in the issue of women safety in this country. This is not the first time that women have been treated as commodities by the Hindu right wing outfits, which are to be protected and exploited according to the calls made by them. In the recent times, the ‘love jihad’ bogey has been used by the Hindu extremist outfits to further their communal agenda. In this particular speech, made at a public rally in Karnataka’s Bagalkot on February 19, Muthalik had said that “They are trapping Hindu women through ‘love jihad’. I am instructing our workforce, if we lose one Hindu girl, we must trap 10 Muslim women”.

“Our girls are exploited in love jihad. Across the country, thousands of girls are cheated in the name of love. We should warn them,” the politician had further said. Thus, in the name of “protecting” women belonging one religion, the Hindu extremist leader created this barter system wherein the women of other religion are to be hurt, raped, abducted, and presumably impregnated. It is sad to state that a culture which promotes the “worship” of women, certain extremist leaders are treating them as commodities and weapons. It is further worrisome to see that in a country with myriad laws made to protect women and prosecute those who even attempt to harm the dignity of women, such shameless and gruesome calls are not acted upon by those who are supposed to protect the citizens.

Time and again, women have been dragged in by Hindutva extremist leaders to involve the feelings of honor. Last week, at the event in Baramati, Kalicharan said that Muslims want to convert everyone to Islam because those who are not Muslims are Kaafirs and it is written in the Quran that you should kill a Kaafir. “I am Kaafir which means I am eligible to be killed (by them),” he said. He said, “Wives of Kaafirs are stolen property and one woman being raped by 50 men is not a big deal.” Here too, he brought down the worth of a woman to just being a commodity that can be raped.

In another such incident of December 2022, Kalicharan had said, “The women of our houses are very good and civilised and they do not go to vote (in election). When there will be gang-rapes then what will happen to women of your houses (families).” In another instance, in May 2022, Kalicharan was heard saying that “80 crore women were gang rape in 800 years, 5 Lakh mandirs were demolished in the last 800 years and mosques were constructed in its place.”

On April 2, 2022, Bajrang Muni Das had openly threatened Muslim women with sexual assault while addressing supporters from his vehicle parked outside a mosque in Sitapur. Das’s audience comprised people who were part of a procession on the occasion of Hindu New Year. Das spoke into a microphone connected to loudspeaker and said, “If you tease a single [Hindu] girl, I will abduct your daughters and daughters-in-law from your house, and rape them in public.”

Not much time has passed since Muslim women were targeted online. In July 2021, nearly 80 Muslim women were targeted and put up “for sale” on the S**li Deals app, and in January 2022, over 100 Muslim women were targeted using the B**li Bai app. Both B**li and S**li are sexually derogatory words used to target Muslim women. CJP had promptly complained against these offensive twitter accounts and the social media platform, compelling Twitter to remove 21 such accounts by suspending them for “violating Twitter’s Terms of Service”. Further, three unchecked accounts had been “actioned for violating Twitter’s Media Policy”. CJP had, in its complaint dated May 26, 2021 also brought to twitter’s attention certain posts made through these accounts that demeaned Muslim women as “sex objects for Hindu men”. The content displayed pornographic videos of women in hijab with inflammatory captions presenting Muslim women as objects meant to be sexually exploited, and also photoshopped pictures of Hindu men and pregnant women in saffron hijab. Out of these, Twitter had removed 11 posts for violating Twitter norms.

Not only men, but women extremist Hindu leaders have also made calls to Hindu men for raping Muslim women. At the Dharma Sansad held at Raipur, Chhattisgarh during December 25-26, 2021, a Hindu woman, said to be Vibhanand Giri, is heard exhorting Hindu men to “rape and impregnate Muslim women if Muslim men cast even a glance at Hindu girls”.

President KR Narayanan had once said, “Can we not pledge to get rid of everything in our behaviour, culture and everyday life that humiliates and demeans women?” Sadly, the situation has only worsened. In today’s India, where there is a “clash” between members belonging to two separate communities, it is the women who face the brunt of it. Starting from the innumerable and gruesome rapes that took place during partition, the Sikh genocide, the Kashmir exodus, the Gujarat riots, to the most recent Muzaffarnagar riots, women have been the silent suffers. Since the honor of every religion has been attached to the vagina of a woman, they are the ones who are targeted the most.

Legal position on Filing of suo-moto FIRs

In Pravasi Bhalai Sangathan v. Union of India, (Ref: AIR 2014 SC 1591), the Supreme Court has unambiguously stated that “hate speech is an effort to marginalise individuals based on their membership to a group, that can have a social impact. Moreover, the Court stated that hate speech lays the groundwork for broad attacks on the vulnerable that can range from discrimination, to ostracism, deportation, violence, and even to genocide. Therefore, the aforementioned news items are tantamount to the perpetration of genocide, and must be considered to be in violation of Article 21 of the Constitution.” (Para 7)

In Firoz Iqbal Khan vs Union of India [W. P (Civ.) No. 956 of 2020], the Supreme Court had held, “..the edifice of a democratic society committed to the rule of law under a regime of constitutional rights, values and duties is founded on the co-existence of communities. India is a melting pot of civilizations, cultures, religions and languages. Any attempt to vilify a religious community must be viewed with grave disfavour by this Court as the custodian of constitutional values.” (Para 11)

In October 2022, the Supreme Court had issued a set of interim directions to authorities and government in a plea to curb hate speeches in the country. A bench comprising Justices KM Joseph and Hrishikesh Roy had directed Governments should take suo motu action against any hate speech crime, without waiting for any complaint. The action should be taken regardless of the religion of the speaker. Any hesitation to act as per the directions would be viewed as contempt of court, the Court warned.

A bench comprising Justices KM Joseph and Hrishikesh Roy was hearing a petition seeking urgent intervention to stop the “growing menace of targeting and terrorizing the Muslim Community in India”.

The bench issued notice on the petition observing that the complaint raised that the authorities are not taking action by not registering criminal complaints against hate crimes was serious. The bench said that the complaint of the petitioner relates to the “prevailing climate of hate in the country” and total inaction of the authorities.

“The Constitution of India envisages Bharat as a secular nation and fraternity, assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the country are guiding principles enshrined in the Preamble. There cannot be fraternity unless members of the community drawn from different religions or castes are able to live in harmony”, the bench observed in the order.

The order can be read here.

According to The Hindu, Vinay Sreenivasa, a city-based advocate and human rights activist, said that the police were making wrong claims on their legal positions regarding registering suo-moto FIRs in all cognizable offences. He was quoted as saying, “In fact, suo motu FIRs were registered against actor Chetan Ahimsa for his tweet on judiciary, student activists Amulya and Arudra during the anti-CAA protests. Supreme Court in its order on Shaheen Abdulla versus Union government directed three State governments to register suo motu FIRs in cases of hate speech.”

Conclusion

Muslim women have been increasingly targeted with vile sexual threats, both online and on the ground. The blatantly abusive behaviour is often spearheaded with impunity by right-wing extremists and socio-culturally influential members of the majority community. It has been made clear above that the authorities have full power to take action against anti-woman and derogatory comments made by Muthalik. Despite this, no action has been taken. It is also pertinent to note that had such comments been made by a person who was not backed by the majority community, the actions followed such a statement had been different.

This brings us to the question: like many other issues, will the issue of women safety be dictated by the religious background one belongs to? In addition to selective action, will selective protection be granted by the authorities?

And the most important question of them all: who are the women supposed to approach when the police themselves are supporting the perpetrators?

The police is bound under law and the constitutional oath to take stern action against Muthalik and set an example for his peers. If this incident is ignored, even after there are directions laid down by the Supreme Court, it will add on to the current environment of unsafety that exists for the women and the marginalized in India. Such state sponsored impunity may make Muslim women more and more vulnerable in the social and public sphere.

Related:

Maharashtra: The new breeding ground for hate, oaths of allegiance to the Constitution brutally violated

Hate Speech: Kalicharan spews hate against Muslims in protest for “Love-Jihad” law, Maharashtra

How the Supreme Court has interpreted hate speech over decades

Remission to Bilkis Bano’s Rapists Offends Gandhi’s Ideas of Swaraj

Orchestrated right-wing campaign targets Muslim women: Can the Law defend them adequately?

Has inaction prompted another Muslim women’s auction on the internet?

CJP moves NCM, writes to DGP Maharashtra against notorious hate offender Kalicharan

CJP Impact: Ncm Acts On Cjp’s Complaint Against Genocidal Speech Of Bjp Mla Haribhushan Bachaul

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At an event in Karnataka, Pramod Muthalik made a derogatory comment against Muslim women by urging Hindu men to “get 10 Muslim girls for losing 1 Hindu girl”. Muthalik is the chief of the Rashtriya Hindu Sena, the parent organisation of the Sri Ram Sene.

The speech made in Kannada implies that for every Hindu girl that marries a Muslim man or falls in love with a Muslim man, Hindu men should “get” or abduct 10 Muslim women as vengeance. Moreover, he said that Sri Ram Sene will take responsibility and provide financial security and employment to such Hindu men.

Muthalik is a known Hindutva hate fanatic who has been linked to the assault on women at a pub in Mangalore in 2009. Last month, while delivering a speech in Belagavi, he claimed that displaying a sword at home would not result in police officials filing any complaints and that the purpose of doing so was to defend women rather than to kill. He said that it was better to worship swords than tools or books on Ayudha Puja (conducted during Dussehra).

He had even opposed Karnataka government’s decision to establish colleges for Muslim girls. “We never thought BJP would indulge in appeasement of Muslims ahead of the Assembly elections. This is a divisive rule and the colleges are opened in the backdrop of the hijab crisis. This would make students develop a divisive mindset,” he had said.

Related:

Pramod Muthalik stirs the Hanuman Chalisa vs Azaan pot

Karnataka: Controversy over decision to build colleges for Muslim girls

K’taka: Bajrang Dal allegedly demonstrated outside a mosque

Review of 2022: A year of discrimination & violence experienced by India’s religious minorities

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Under the pretense of defending Hindu women, Pramod Muthalik, the controversial leader of Sri Rama Sene who has been linked to the assault on women at a pub in Mangalore in 2009, has, this time made statements that are communal and inciting. Muthalik, a well-known Hindutva fanatic in Karnataka, has urged Hindus to venerate swords and keep them on display in their homes to defend their women.

A few days before his remarks, BJP lawmaker Pragya Singh Thakur was booked for advising Hindus to keep their kitchen knives sharp. Videos normalizing the use of weapons against minorities, such sticks and swords, are becoming more and more prevalent, indicating a concerted effort by the Right wing hardliners to polarize voters before this summer’s Assembly elections.

On January 13, 2023, Muthalik was addressing a Hindu convention on the occasion of Swami Vivekananda Jayanti at Yadravi town, in Belagavi distrcit. Although we have included a video of his address below, we are unable to provide a transcript of the same because it was delivered in a regional language. As provided by the Deccan Herald, Muthalik had claimed that displaying a sword at home would not result in police officials filing any complaints and that the purpose of doing so was to defend women rather than to kill.

Referring to the festival of Ayudha Puja, a festival observed widely in south India a day ahead of Dasara — which coincides with Vijaya Dashami — during which people worship articles linked to their occupation or vocation, Muthalik said that it was better to worship swords than tools or books on Ayudha Puja, as provided by The Telegram. 

“We should worship swords instead of tractors, books or pens. We should display swords at our homes to protect our women,” Muthalik said.

As per media reports, no police complaints or FIRs were reported to have been filed up until the evening of January 14. 

The video can be viewed here: 

‘Keep Swords at Home to Protect Your Religion, Country, Sisters’: #PramodMuthalik to #Hindus on Jan 13.

Police have not yet initiated any action against Muthalik, the national president of the #ShriRamSene, for his #HateSpeech.#Karnataka #Kalaburagipic.twitter.com/GrlTbnLG8Q

— Hate Detector ? (@HateDetectors) January 15, 2023

Prior instances of hate comments by Muthalik

Pramod Muthalik gained notoriety after some members of his right-wing group stormed a pub in Mangalore in 2009 and beat up young people, both men and women, after accusing them of acting in an “obscene manner.”

After the incident, Muthalik, who was later arrested, stated that their actions were “aimed at safeguarding the women.” The then Karnataka chief minister, BS Yeddyurappa, had said that Ram Sena had “nothing to do” with BJP or the Sangh Parivar.  With the BJP, Muthalik has had a love-hate relationship. He had experienced political backlash after the saffron party accused him of misappropriating Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s name to raise money. He had joined the Shiv Sena in 2005, after joining RSS in 1975, but he quit the party in 2006.

Other Hindutva leaders indulging in hate speeches inciting violence

Lok Sabha member and terror accused, Pragya Singh Thakur, had on December 25 urged Hindus to keep their vegetable knives sharp against perpetrators of “love jihad” — a claim made by the Sangh parivar according to which Muslims have all been planning to seduce Hindu women and force them into marriage in order to convert them. The FIR against the contentious politician was filed on December 28, on the basis of a complaint submitted by HS Sundresh, the Shivamogga District Congress Committee.

Sadhvi Aasthma Maa had given an interview at the Jantar Mantar Hindu Mahakumb, a video of which had gone viral on the internet. In this video, she had made statements similar to that of notorious hate offender Sadhvi Pragya Thakur, and was heard saying that it is important to keep weapons at home for your safety. She had further said that if someone comes to my house to kill me today, then if I do not even find a vegetable cutting knife at my house, then shame on me. She had then defended Pragya Thakur and had said that she did not say anything wrong. Shehad then reiterated that everyone should keep weapons in their house for their own safety.

Recently, state BJP president Nalin Kateel asked his party workers to talk of “love jihad”, and not small matters like roads and sewage, ahead of the Assembly polls. Sangh parivar outfits have been demanding a specific law, and a separate police wing, against “love jihad” in Karnataka.

Related:

Hate watch: “Keep your knives sharp” says terror accused Pragya Thakur
Christmas 2022: Hindu supremacist groups chant “Death to Santa Claus!”
VHP Leaders allegedly threatens to burn down Muslims in presence of Police!
Hate Speech: Kalicharan spews hate against Muslims in protest for “Love-Jihad” law, Maharashtra
Hate Offender:  BJP MLA Raja Singh threatens Uttar Pradesh’s Hindu voters 

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Bengaluru: A controversy has erupted in Karnataka over the state’s ruling BJP government’s decision to build 10 new colleges exclusively for Muslim girls, with Hindu organisations warning of widespread protests.

The government is however moving ahead with its decision and has allotted a Rs 2.50-crore grant, sources said, adding that that Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai is all set to lay down the foundation stone for the colleges this month.

The colleges are going to be built in the Malnad and north Karnataka regions initially, and will expand later, the sources added.

Maulana Shafi Saadi, Chairperson of the Karnataka Wakf Board, said that the proposal for the exclusive colleges was made by the Board and the decision was taken after large number of Muslim girls have opted to stay at home since wearing of hijab is not allowed in college premises.

“The proposal was made to the Union Minister of Women and Child Development Smriti Irani. The delegation was led by Karnataka Minister for Muzrai Shashikala Jolle and Kalaburagi MP Umesh Jadhav,” he said.

“The state government has consented to the proposal. I thank Minister Shashikala Jolle who took lead like a sister to ensure, Muslim girls are educated.”

However, the development has created a furore in the state.

Hindu Jana Jagruthi Samithi leader Mohan Gowda said that if colleges are being built Muslim girls, then Hindu educational institutes should also come up.

Maintaining that the decision is against the principles of secularism and the constitution, Gowda warned that “if the government does not revert it, protests would be launched”.

Sri Rama Sena founder Pramod Muthalik has challenged the ruling state government against building the colleges, saying it won’t be allowed in the state.

“We never thought BJP would indulge in appeasement of Muslims ahead of the Assembly elections. This is a divisive rule and the colleges are opened in the backdrop of the hijab crisis. This would make students develop a divisive mindset,” he explained.

Courtesy: The Daily Siasat

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Bengaluru: Sri Ram Sena leader Pramod Mutalik has declared that he would observe Savarkar Utsav during the Gauri Ganesh festival. Addressing a press conference at the state capital on Friday, he referred to Hindu Mahasabha leader Vinayak Damodar Savarkar as a revolutionary. He criticised Congress and the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) for repeatedly insulting him.

The question of Savarkar popped up on August 15 when the SDPI cadre removed banners of Savarkar in Shivamogga city and attempted to replace them with posters of Tipu Sultan. The act resulted in clashes between SDPI and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers. Ultimately, the police resorted to lathi-charge to disperse the crowd and put restrictions in the city under section 144.

Starting with the ban on hijab in colleges, BJP and various Hindu groups have taken turns to stoke controversy and communal unrest in the state of Karnataka. In February of this year, the murder of Bajrang Dal worker Harsha in Shivamogga was seen as an outcome of the toxic, communal rhetoric brewing in the state for quite some time. Five Muslim men were arrested in connection with the case.

Sri Ram Sena Karnataka State working President, Gangadhar Kulkarni and Pramod Mutalik address media persons

Weeks later, the Karnataka High Court ruled in favour of a ban on the hijab, emboldening Hindu groups to initiate a campaign against Muslim cultural and economic rights. Hindu groups attempted to enforce a boycott on Halal meat in the state. Following this, the Sri Ram Sena members in Dharwad attacked a watermelon seller for doing business outside a temple premises. Sri Ram Sena and Mutalik are based out of Dharwad. Meanwhile, Nupur Sharma’s statements incensed Muslims, further adding fuel to the fire.

On July 26, Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha member Praveen Nettaru was murdered by two bike-borne men in Bellare town of Dakshina Kannada district. Hindu groups, including BJP workers, were incensed at the murder and blamed the top leadership of the BJP for using workers as cannon fodder. They blamed the Popular Front of India (PFI) and SDPI for Nettaru’s murder. So far, five Muslim men have been arrested by police in connection with the case, and the investigation has been transferred to the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

In retaliation for Nettaru’s murder, Hindu extremists murdered a man called Mohammed Fazil at Suratkal on July 28. Six Hindu men were arrested in connection with Fazil’s murder. Mutalik was barred from entering Dakshina Kannada district when he attempted to travel to Bellare to meet Nettaru’s parents. The Mangaluru City Police briefly detained him and sent him back.

Meanwhile, in Bengaluru, a dispute raked up over ownership of a two-acre maidan at Chamrajpet. The Karnataka Waqf Board claims the property, whereas the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) also claims the site. Muslims offer prayers at the site twice a year. Children use the site for the rest of the year as a playground. Hindu groups have been demanding that the site be opened up for the celebration of Hindu festivals as well.

Mutalik referred to Savarkar as a patriot and said that no Congress leader spent as much time in jail as he had. Addressing a press conference, he said, “Savarkar was the first person to refer to the 1857 rebellion as a war of independence. He wrote a book on this (The Indian War of Independence). Before that book was even published, it was banned in three countries. They feared that if such a book came out, it would bring a revolution to India. The British wanted to stem the feeling of patriotism and hence, jailed him for 11 years at the Kala Pani jail in Andaman. Today, Congress and Islamists are openly insulting Savarkar. For this reason, this year, at the Ganeshotsava festival, we will observe Savarkar Utsav.”

The Hindu organisation mentioned that in the context of celebrating Savarkar, they would screen a film, organise plays, quiz competitions, story competitions, and singing competitions based on the songs penned by Savarkar.

The organisation chief clashed with a few journalists when he stated that Kesari is the colour of patriotism. Journalist Ashik Mulki of News 18 challenged Mutalik on this point and asked him to explain how only Kesari could be the colour of patriotism. Mutalik replied, “When the British left India in 1947, a committee was set up to decide what should be the colour of the national flag. Nehru and Patel were also a part of this committee. It was decided that the national flag would be in Kesari colour. This decision was changed later. The flag colour of this nation’s religion is Kesari. The flag that sits atop the forts and temples of this land is Kesari. I never said that the national flag is Kesari; I said that the colour of patriotism is Kesari.”

When pushed to name the source of the claim regarding the Kesari flag in 1947, the working President of Sri Ram Sena, Gangadhar Kulkarni, said that the source is a book called, The Tragic Story of Partition written by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leader HV Seshadri.

Later in the day, the organisation members met with Revenue Department officials and requested permission to hold a three-day celebration of the Gauri Ganesh festival at the disputed Chamrajpet Eidgah maidan. The proposed celebrations will begin on August 31 and culminate with Ganesh visarjan on September 2. Permission has not yet been granted.

Courtesy: Newsclick

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Karnataka Police have issued a high alert across the state in wake of chanting of Hanuman Chalisa during the early morning Azaan on Monday. Over 300 notices have also been served to various religious and non-religious establishments to comply with noise pollution rules.

Earlier this morning, Deccan Herald reported that Hanuman Chalisa was recited for about an hour using loudspeakers from the Sonya Maruti Temple in Belgavi (previously known as Belgaum) at 5 A.M today, by members of Pramod Muthalik led Sree Ram Sene (SRS). The publication said, “The volume of the public address system at the temple was more than that of the mosques in the vicinity wherein the azaan was being heard.”

Hindustan Times reported, “Srirama Bhajane, Hanuman Chalisa, Mantrapatana and Mantra were heard in temples across the state including Bengaluru, Mysuru, Mandya, Belgaum, Dharwad and Kalaburagi.” SRS members raised slogans like “Jai Shri Ram”, “Jai Hanuman” and “Bharat Mata ki Jai”, before commencing with the traditional Suprabhatam (morning prayers, reported local publication Uadyavani.  

Muthalik’s group had previously declared their intention to chant Hanuman Chalisa using loudspeakers, if the devices were not removed from mosques starting today. SRS claims similar recitals of the Hanuman Chalisa took place at nearly 1,000 temples across the state today. Muthalik had challenged the Karnataka administration to “show guts” like Yogi Adityanath on the issue, and slammed the Bommai administration for failing to act against mosques that used loudspeakers for azaan.

Police took a few Hindutva activists who had planned to do the same at a Bengaluru temple earlier today. Security has been beefed up statewide fearing communal clashes. So far, 301 notices have been served in connection with the loudspeaker issue, though oddly enough 59 were served to pubs and bars! Readers would recall that the SRS had shot to fame with the Mangalore pub attack where members of the group had physically assaulted young women and couples who were enjoying drinks and dancing at a pub. It is not clear if this was done to placate the SRS in some way.

Meanwhile, News 18 reports that other recipients of the notices include 125 mosques, 83 temples, 22 churches and 12 industrial units as well, across the state.

Bengaluru Police Commissioner Kamal Pant also reportedly held a meeting with Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai in connection with these developments.  Home Minister Araga Jnanendra, meanwhile, told media persons, “We won’t hesitate to take stringent action against those who take law into their hands.”

Related:

Will keep loudspeaker volume low: Mumbai Mosques

Use of loudspeakers not a fundamental right: Allahabad HC

VHP backs out on MNS’ Hanuman Chalisa event

UP priest booked for playing Hanuman Chalisa outside mosque

The post Pramod Muthalik stirs the Hanuman Chalisa vs Azaan pot appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Sri Ram Sene Chief Pramod Muthalik goes looking for controversy, on a regular basis. A serial hate offender, he has specialised in creating communal unrest, and resurfaces every now and then in the hope that the right wing ecosystem gives him some recognition. 

Recently speaking at a public gathering, he said that the Gadag Jama Masjid or Gadag Jumma Masjid “was actually a temple and it should be taken down”. Muthalik also gave a call to communal unrest and potential violence and said that “a new campaign will start to demolish Gadag Jama masjid and build Venkateshwara temple.” He announced that he will also work on an “an awareness campaign” in Gadag.

However, this time he is up against an entire district known for its communal harmony.

*A new campaign will start to demolish #Gadag Jamia masjid & build Venkateshwara temple* says#SriRamSene Chief #PramodMuthalik. *This Tippu era masjid will be raised down and a temple will be built*. An awareness campaign was also organised over this issue In Gadag, #Karnataka pic.twitter.com/ZkoncOHzUk

— Imran Khan (@KeypadGuerilla) October 18, 2021

Did you know about the Veeranarayana Jumma Masjid Trust?

According to a 2020 report in The New Indian Express, Gadag is known for religious harmony. Leading by example is the Veeranarayana Jumma Masjid Trust, which has existed for 70 years. According to the news report, the “trust handles celebrations for all the Hindu and Muslim festivals, and also the other activities run by both the communities in the city. It manages the Veeranarayana temple as well as the Jumma Masjid. Members of the trust management belong to both the communities, with Hindus and Muslims taking turns to manage it each year.”

The Jumma Masjid is “built between Veeranarayana temple and Trikuteshwara temple. The latter is located 1 km away from the Veeranarayana temple, and the mosque is situated very close to the Trikutesh wara temple” stayed the report that quoted Gadag Deputy Commissioner M G Hiremath as saying, “The Trikuteshwara temple follows the Shaiva tradition, and the Jumma Masjid is sacred for Muslims. They have a common trust for administration and organisational purposes, which is a rare thing to find in the whole world.” 

The official Gadag district website to notes its religious harmony, saying, “The Veeranarayana temple of Vaishnava tradition ,Trikuteshwara temple of Shaiva tradition and Jumma Masjid of Islam have the common Trust for the administration and organizational purposes. This is a rare and only one example in the whole world. In similar way, Fakkireshwara Math od Shirahatti , Mouneshwara temple at Varavi are the very good examples of Hindu-Muslim religious harmony. The Tontadarya Math of Gadag has opened its door for all religions.”

Even the right-wing is wary of Muthalik 

It is the communal harmony of Gadag, that Muthalik who wants to be recognised as a “Hindutva leader” now wants to break. He was once a Bajrang Dal member, and even started a Shiv Sena unit in Karnataka, but is better known rabble rouser who has not even found favour even with right wing organisations. The Bajrang Dal expelled him in 2005. In 2014, he joined the Karnataka unit of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) “but was forced to exit within hours after protests from other members”. Goa’s Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar had banned Muthalik’s entry to the state. 

He had earlier been banned by the BJP led state government and banned him from entering Mangalore, where he had allegedly planned the attack on a city pub. On January 24, 2009 scores of Sri Ram Sene goons had allegedly barged into the pub and assaulted the women and men, accusing them of “violating traditional Indian values”. Video clip of the attack had gone viral and showed that the accused dragged the women out of the pub by their hair, and hit them. In 2018, nine years after the Mangaluru pub attack a local court acquitted Pramod Muthalik and several others in the case “citing lack of evidence.”  

Even after he was removed from the BJP in 2014, he fought the 2014 Lok Sabha elections as an Independent Candidate from Bangalore South and Dharwad and lost in both constituencies. Muthalik in February, had given a call to violence against Christians, saying they “should preach in their churches. If Christian preachers come to any Hindu’s house saying-Jesus will save you- you will be hit. Our patience is over.”

Provocative speech by #sriramsene chief @pramodmuthali: From now on #Christians should preach in their churches. If Christian preachers come to any Hindu’s house saying-Jesus will save you- you will be hit. Our patience is over. pic.twitter.com/N8rWUEha48

— Imran Khan (@KeypadGuerilla) February 20, 2021

The hired hitman of Sene?

Recently, after their daughter fell in love with a Muslim man, the Hindu parents, reportedly hired a hitman from the right-wing outfit Sri Rama Sena Hindustan to kill 24-year-old Arbaz Aftab Mullah. They allegedly paid Pundalik Mutgekar, a member of the Sri Rama Sena Hindustan, Rs 5 lakh to kill Arbaaz. Belagavi police told mediapersons that ten people were arrested in the case including the girlfriend’s parents and Pundalik Mutgekar, in Khanapur in Belagavi. Arbaz Aftab Mullah’s body was found decapitated on the railway tracks in Belagavi on September 28. The news had failed to make it to the national discourse, till his mother Najeema Shaikh, a school teacher, put it on record in her police complaint that she “suspected the father of the Hindu girl, with whom her son was involved”, and some others she stated were “associated with a radical right-wing group” of murdering her son. This is reportedly the same “Shri Ram Sena (SRS)” was founded in 2006, and on its Facebook page, proudly announces that “an ever increasing presence of Shri Ram Sena is seen in all villages & towns in Karnataka including Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Delhi.”

Related:

Survey of Karnataka’s Christian missionaries and places of worship, a dangerous 
Karnataka: CM Bommai normalising ‘moral policing’, gets schooled by ex-CM Siddaramaiah

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