KARWAR: A case has been registered against Uttara Kannada MP Ananthkumar Hegde at the Kumta police station for his provocative speech while addressing party workers in the town recently.
Hegde had made a controversial remark that the Bhatkal mosque, popularly known as the ‘Chinnada Palli’, would meet the same fate as the Babri masjid. A suo motu FIR against him was registered under Sections 505 and 153 (a) of the IPC for disturbing communal harmony, creating enmity between groups and provocation to rioting.
Meanwhile, speaking to media persons at his Sirsi residence, Ananthkumar Hegde challenged Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to an open debate on culture. “Is Hindu community useless (bewarsi)? For 20 per cent of the votes, they are salivating so much and don’t respect the 80-85 per cent of Hindus. Of course my statements will be condemned, but it is my statement, not that of the party. What party state president B Y Vijayendra said is right”.
“Congress leaders spoke ill about Yediyurappa, Modi, Amit Shah and our temples. Salman Kurshid called Modi a frog, a monkey and impotent. Sharad Pawar and many Congress leaders called him ‘Hitler’ and other names. Siddaramaiah addressed Modi in singular and called him mass murderer. There is video evidence for all this. I will not hesitate to speak for my PM, my country and my religion”, he said.