Daijiworld News Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Dec 21: RTI Activist and journalist Saket Ghokale has filed a police complaint against Karnataka tourism, Kannada and culture minister C T Ravi for his statement that 'Godhra-like' situation may arise if majority loses patience.
Gokhale took to Twitter to share the police complaint copy he filed at Parliament Street Police Station, New Delhi.
The complaint jointly filed by Gokhale and Sachi Nelli points out that the statement made by C T Ravi is a cognizable offence under Section 153 A of the IPC which criminalizes 'promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language etc and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony'.
"The IPC makes it clear that a cognizable offence is committed when anyone ‘by words, either spoken or written, or by signs or by visible representations or otherwise, promotes or attempts to promote, on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, caste or community or any other ground whatsoever, disharmony or feelings of enmity, hatred or ill-will between different religious, racial, language or regional groups or castes of communities,' which C T Ravi has clearly violated. In the turbulent times the country is currently experiencing, we are certain that you can appreciate the gravity of inflammation that can occur as a result of statements of such nature. The MLA has a long history of making controversial and communally charged statement, and during the aforementioned instance he has violated the clear rules of Section 153A of the IPC," the complaint copy reads.
"Moreover, with the current situation of budding unrest and tension amidst the protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act 2019 (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC), a statement that implies threat to religious minorities, making references to past communal riots coming from an incumbent elected leader and Minister of State is not only irresponsible but highly dangerous. Inaction towards such words and actions will set a dangerous precedent for the future of our country, with potential to cause further harm to the harmony and secular sanctity of this nation," Saket adds.
A video of the C T Ravi’s inflammatory statement went viral on Friday December 20.
Comparing the situation in Mangaluru on Thursday to the Godhra riots, CT Ravi said, "U T Khader must recall what happened in Godhra."
"It is because of their (referring to the Muslim community) mentality that they set fire in Godhra. It was their mentality that led them to burn karsevaks alive. We know this. But when it comes to reactions, we know that in Godhra, when the train was set on fire and how people were inflamed. U T Khader must know what happened when people are outraged. If he doesn’t know, then he must recall it," C T Ravi had said.