Chikkamagaluru (Karnataka), July 26 (IANS) High drama unfolded outside the residence of BJP MLC C.T. Ravi in Chikkamagaluru on Sunday after Karnataka Police arrived to serve a notice directing him to appear for questioning in connection with a hate speech case registered over his remarks during a protest against the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET).
The police action triggered heated exchanges between officers, BJP workers and advocates gathered at Ravi’s residence, with party supporters accusing the Congress government of targeting opposition leaders.
Ravi has been booked following his controversial statement, “If you tear open the chest of mullahs, you won’t find three letters and what their connection to NEET protests,” which has drawn sharp criticism from members of the Muslim community and led to the registration of an FIR against him.
Commenting on the development, BJP MLC C.T. Ravi said he had merely condemned the actions of an individual who allegedly attempted to set fire to the petrol tank of a jeep during a student protest in Delhi and denied targeting the Muslim community.
“I spoke condemning the act of a mullah who allegedly tried to set fire to the petrol tank of a jeep in the name of a student protest in Delhi. The police have registered an FIR in connection with the incident and came to my residence to serve a notice. I have stated the facts as they are and have not spoken against the Muslim community. Condemning the actions of one individual does not amount to insulting an entire community,” Ravi said.
Questioning the police action, Ravi asked under what legal provisions the case had been registered.
“Even after I informed the police that I had a pre-scheduled programme and would personally appear at the police station after two days, they continued to act like puppets of the ruling party. This is a shocking development,” he alleged.
Ravi maintained that he stood by his remarks and insisted that he had only spoken about a factual incident.
“I have spoken about facts. I called a wrong a wrong, and I stand by what I said,” he added.
Earlier, police personnel led by Chikkamagaluru Town Police Inspector Abhay Prakash reached Ravi’s residence to serve a notice asking him to appear before investigators at 11 a.m. on July 27. However, Ravi refused to accept the notice, following which police pasted it on the wall of his residence.
This prompted an angry reaction from BJP workers, who tore down the notice and raised slogans against the police and the state government. Several party workers and advocates engaged in arguments with police personnel, questioning the basis of the FIR and alleging selective action by the authorities.
Addressing the police, Ravi maintained that his speech did not contain any hateful or derogatory references to any community.
“There is nothing in my speech that promotes hatred against any community. I was referring to a person who had come to incite violence. Where in the FIR is the Muslim community mentioned? Does the word ‘mullah’ necessarily mean ‘Muslim’? I did not even use the word ‘religion’ in my speech. I will reiterate the same tomorrow as well,” Ravi said.
He further questioned whether police would register an FIR and initiate action merely on the basis of any complaint without examining its merits.
BJP workers also confronted the police, asking what action had been taken on complaints filed by them against Congress leaders, including AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge.
Responding to the protesters, Inspector Abhay Prakash said the police had only come to serve a notice and were not there to arrest Ravi.
“We are here only to issue a notice. We have not come to make an arrest. The matter will be investigated,” the officer told the gathering.
As tensions escalated, police personnel were surrounded by agitated supporters who shouted slogans and accused the government of attempting to suppress dissenting voices. A visibly upset Inspector Abhay Prakash remarked that he had never faced such resistance while performing official duties and warned that obstructing public servants was an offence before leaving the premises.
Police pasted the notice on the outer wall of Ravi’s residence after he refused to accept it. However, agitated BJP workers tore down the notice, raising slogans against the government. The incident is likely to trigger a political controversy in the state.
–IANS
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