Sirsi: BJP Lok Sabha MP Ananth Kumar Hegde has landed in trouble with the police registering a criminal case against him suo motu for his alleged remarks linking Islam to terrorism.
The case has been booked at Sirsi in Uttara Kannada district under section 295(A) of IPC relating to "deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs," police said.
The five-time MP from Uttara Kannada had allegedly made the remarks at a press conference at Sirsi last Sunday, drawing a link between Islam and terrorism, triggering protests from Muslim organisations.
Muslim organisations in the communally sensitive Bhatkal town in the district had held protests and submitted a memorandum to the district Superintendent of Police Vamsi Krishna, calling for action against Hegde. Krishna said security had been tightened in Bhatkal as a precautionary step.
In the neighbouring Dakshina Kannada district also Muslim outfits had sought action. State Health Minister U T Khader had requested Home Minister G Parameshwara to take suo motu action against Hegde for his "shocking and irresponsible" statement against Islam.
