FIR Against Udupi MLA Yashpal Suvarna Over Alleged Hate Speech at Protest
The complaint pertains to remarks allegedly made by the BJP MLA during a protest organised in Udupi on Tuesday against the Congress and the CJP in connection with the controversy over the NEET examination paper leak.
Udupi: An FIR has been registered against BJP’s Udupi MLA Yashpal Suvarna over his alleged remarks during a BJP protest in Udupi, with the Congress accusing him of delivering inflammatory and hate speech targeting Leader of the Opposition at the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, actor Prakash Raj and others.
According to police, the case was registered at Udupi Town Police Station based on a complaint filed by District Congress President Ashok. The FIR has been booked under Sections 57 (Abetment), 192 (Provocation with intent to cause riot), 196(2) (Promoting enmity between different groups), 352 (Intentional insult to provoke breach of peace), 353(2) (Statements creating public mischief) and 351(2) (Criminal intimidation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Police said further legal action would be taken as part of the investigation.
The complaint pertains to remarks allegedly made by the BJP MLA during a protest organised in Udupi on Tuesday against the Congress and the CJP in connection with the controversy over the NEET examination paper leak.
Meanwhile, Udupi Block Congress Committee President Ramesh Kanchan strongly condemned Suvarna's statements, alleging that the legislator had used objectionable language against Rahul Gandhi and made threats against him and the Congress party during the public meeting.
In a statement, Kanchan said ideological differences were a part of democracy, but political criticism and public discourse should remain dignified and respectful. He alleged that Suvarna had referred to Rahul Gandhi in derogatory terms and made statements about "destroying" Gandhi's family and the Congress party, which reflected an unacceptable political culture. He termed it as ‘goonda culture,’ of the MLA.
Kanchan also criticised Suvarna's reported remarks against actor Prakash Raj, in which the MLA allegedly said that Prakash Raj should be thrown into the Arabian Sea as food for fish. Such a statement, he alleged, reflected a "terroristic mindset."
He said Rahul Gandhi had spoken on behalf of students protesting the alleged irregularities in the NEET examination and accused the BJP of attempting to divert attention from the issue.
Kanchan further alleged that the BJP and the MLA had insulted students and youth by branding protesters as anti-national elements.
"The BJP and Yashpal Suvarna, who came to power on the strength of the support of the youth and student community, are today branding those very students and youngsters as terrorists and anti-national elements. This only reflects their depraved mindset," he added.
He also criticised Suvarna over what he described as a lack of developmental work in the Udupi Assembly constituency, claiming that the MLA had spent more time making controversial statements than addressing public issues.
He demanded that the MLA immediately apologise for using derogatory language against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, warning that the Congress would launch an agitation against him in the coming days if he failed to do so.
