Tamil Nadu police files FIR against BJP leader Shobha Karandlaje; DMK approaches ECI

Addressing reporters in Bengaluru, Karandlaje made a statement alleging that the people from Tamil Nadu were behind the Rameshwaram cafe blast which took place on 1 March.

Meanwhile, Madurai City police filed an FIR against Karnadlaje on Wednesday over the incident followed by a complaint by one Thiagarajan.

Also Read: People from Tamil Nadu planted bomb in cafe, claims BJP leader

‘Baseless allegations’

The DMK said that she made baseless allegations despite the NIA, which is probing the case, not identifying the culprits behind the blast.

“It generalises the people of Tamil Nadu as extremists, and seeks to create hostility and enmity between two communities, i.e., the Tamilians and the Kannadigas. The allegations made in the statement are of a grave nature, and have the potential to engender violence against the Tamil community,” said Bharati in the letter.

“The utterances of the minister, instilling hatred in the Kannada community towards members of the Tamil community, and are in blatant violation of the MCC,” he added.

He said that the statement of the Union minister was intended to create an environment of hatred and enmity between the people of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

Also Read: DMK petitions ECI over presence of school children in Modi roadshow

‘Violated RP Act’

He also said that the statement, which he said amounted to hate speech, also violated the Representation of Peoples (RP) Act 1951.

“The said statement is in blatant violation of Sections 123(3) and 125 of the RP, Act…,” he said.

“The socially divisive statement made by the minister has significantly harmed the relations between the two communities and has led to animosity and hatred between them, which has been further amplified by social media and electronic print media. The statement also tantamounts to hate speech,” he said.

He also claimed in the letter that the minister’s statement could potentially cause reprisals from the people of Karnataka against the people of Tamil Nadu.

“Therefore, we request your good selves to take appropriate action against Union Minister for State Shobha Karandlaje and the Bharatiya Janata Party for violating Sections 123(3A) and 125 of the RP Act, and the MCC,” Bharati said on behalf of the DMK.

Also Read: BJP seat-sharing deal in Tamil Nadu gives PMK 10 seats

FIR registered

Madurai City police registered an FIR against Karandlaje under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

The sections are:

• 153 (attempt to promote enmity between two groups),
• 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc),
• 505(1 )(b) (circulates any statement, rumour or report with intent to cause, or which is likely to cause, fear or alarm to the public, or to any section of the public whereby any person may be induced to commit an offence against the State or against the public tranquility),
• 505(2 ) (Statements creating or promoting enmity, hatred or ill-will between classes)

Further investigation regarding the statements is being conducted, said the FIR, accessed by South First.

FIR registered against Union Minister #ShobhaKarandlaje in Madurai under sections 153, 153A, 505(1 )(b) and 505(2) for her alleged hate speech linking #RameshwaramCafeBlast to #TamilNadu.@ShobhaBJP's remarks sparked outrage on social media, following which she apologised and… pic.twitter.com/Lz3J47eH02

— South First (@TheSouthfirst) March 20, 2024

(Edited by Muhammed Fazil)