The Karnataka Police on Monday booked the BJP Member of Legislative Council (MLC) and Chief Whip of the legislative council, N Ravikumar, for his objectionable, Islamophobic comments against Kalaburgi Deputy Commissioner Fauzia Taranum at a public gathering. The FIR was registered in response to the complaint of Dattatreya, a social activist from Kalaburgi.
The BJP leader Ravikumar has reportedly tried to incite hatred against the Muslim community and made abusive comments against muslim police officials, calling them ‘slaves’ and incapable of being patriotic to the country and in performing their duties. He is also alleged of making casteist comments, targeting to turn the crowd against particular communities and incite hate.
Ravikumar has been booked under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), including Section 197 (acts likely to cause disharmony, enmity, or hatred between different groups), 224 (assault or criminal force to deter a public servant from discharge of duty), 299 (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings), 302 (injuring religious sentiments), 351 (criminal intimidation), and 353 (assault or use of criminal force to deter a public servant from discharge of duty).
BJP Leader N. Ravikumar was speaking at a public event when he questioned Fauzia if she belonged to Pakistan or India. The FIR also accuses Ravikumar of misspeaking about her patriotism and allegedly comments that she cannot show her loyalty and allegiance to the Indian constitution, due to her religion. His remarks were widely condemned for targeting her religious identity and harassing a Muslim woman official.
The complaint also alleges that derogatory comments were made against three other police officials–Chandrashekara Tigadi, Nataraja Naade, and Shankaragouda Patil—stating that they could not perform their duties. The FIR is also lodged under Section 3 (1) (r) of the SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
