Pratap Simha’s remarks targeting the Muslim community have ignited widespread backlash and raised concerns of communal unrest
Team Clarion
BENGALURU – Former Mysuru BJP lawmaker Pratap Simha, infamous for his Islamophobic comments and hate speech, was on Thursday booked for his inflammatory remarks against the Muslim community.
He made the comments while speaking at the “Hindu Maha Ganapati Visarjana Shobha Yatra” in Shahpur city in Karnataka’s Yadgiri district on September 21. Addressing the gathering, he questioned the involvement of the Muslim community in incidents of stone pelting during Ganesh idol immersion processions, media reports said.
“Why is the tendency to throw stones seen only in Muslims? If all the Hindus held a stone in their hands, do you know what would happen?” Simha reportedly said.
Simha’s remarks targeting the Muslim community have ignited widespread backlash and raised concerns of communal unrest.
Following the speech, members of the Muslim community filed a formal complaint, against Simha. Police, led by Shahpur Inspector DV Nayak, registered an FIR based on the complaint.
“Simha and others associated with the event have been charged under BNS Sections 299 (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings) and 192 (provocation for riot),” media reports quoted the inspector as saying.
Simha’s speech, laden with threats and divisive rhetoric, warned the Muslim community not to “underestimate” Hindus.
“Hindus who created nuclear bombs, don’t assume they cannot create petrol bombs,” he said, in an apparent reference to petrol bombs hurled in the recent communal clash in Nagamangala, Mandya district.
“Hindus who run the world’s software industry, don’t assume they can’t attack you… if all Hindus take one stone in their hands, you will not survive for very long,” Simha said.
Not new to controversies, Simha had issued visitor passes during the last Lok Sabha session to three persons who recently threw canisters in the lower house.
