Team StoryInfinity for Daijiworld

Mangaluru, Dec 20: In the midst of ongoing curfew across Dakshina Kannada following violent anti-CAA protests, former Karnataka minister and Mangaluru constituency MLA U T Khader has been booked for allegedly delivering a provocative speech and allegedly stirring communal disharmony.

Based on a complaint filed by Sandesh Kumar Shetty, district general secretary, Dakshina Kannada BJP Yuva Morcha, Mangaluru South police have registered the case (FIR No 0235/2019) on December 19, under Sections 124 A (sedition - any person by words, either spoken or written, or by signs, or by visible representation, or otherwise, brings or attempts to bring into hatred or contempt, or excites or attempts to excite disaffection towards the government established by law in India), 153 A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony), and 153 (wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot—if rioting be committed—if not committed).

In his complaint, Shetty alleged that the legislator while addressing a protest at Dakshina Kannada deputy commissioner’s office on December 17 said that 'Karnataka will burn if the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) 2019 will be implemented in Karnataka' and "provoked people to indulge in criminal activities."

A video of the speech has gone viral on social media. BJP general secretary and MP Shobha Karandlaje has shared the clip on her Twitter handle condemning Khader.

Even though #CAA2019 doesn't affect any Kannadigas, former minister UT Khader provoked people to burn Karnataka & incited violences!



It's really shameful that a former minister instigates public to go against the govt & cause damages to the public properties.#CAAProtest pic.twitter.com/lBZZWmo0iS — Shobha Karandlaje (@ShobhaBJP) December 19, 2019

"If it is anyone who needs to show a certificate and prove they are citizens of India, it is Prime Minister Narendra Modi and union home minister Amit Shah. Ever since the BJP came to power, they are indulging in divide and rule politics, similar to the British rule. They have spoken about implementing CAA in Karnataka which is a peaceful state. Even though different parts of India is burning, Karnataka has maintained peace and is a model state. I would like to advice, appeal and warn the Karnataka chief minister that if CAA is implemented, Karnataka too will burn," Khader is heard saying in the clip.

Karnataka BJP president and Dakshina Kannada MP Nalin Kumar Kateel blamed Khader for inciting violence with provocative speeches that led to communal violence and death of two people in Mangaluru on Thursday evening.

Shobha Karandlaje tweeted, "Even though #CAA2019 doesn't affect any Kannadigas, former minister UT Khader provoked people to burn Karnataka & incited violences! It's really shameful that a former minister instigates public to go against the govt & cause damages to the public properties.”

Mangaluru North MLA tweeted that U T Khader will be made answerable.

"Congress MLA @utkhader 's hate politics has incited violence in #Mangalore leading to loss of 2 lives. You shall be made answerable!”

Congress MLA @utkhader 's hate politics has incited violence in #Mangalore leading to loss of 2 lives.

You shall be made answerable! — Dr Bharath Shetty (@bharathshetty_y) December 19, 2019

Meanwhile on December 19, Khader had justified on twitter that his speech has been ‘misinterpreted’.

"My speech has been misinterpreted. I did not say that I will set Karnataka on fire. I told if CAB is implemented in Karnataka, then the ruling government has to face severe opposition. Instead of wrongly interpreting my statements and wasting time, please focus on other work,” he tweeted in Kananda.

???? ??????????? ??????? ????????????.??????????? ????? ?????????????? ???? ???????.CAB ???????????? ???? ??????? ????? ????? ????????????? ??????????? ??????????.??????? ???????????? ?????? ????? ???? ??? ???????? ??? ????.(1) — UT Khadér (@utkhader) December 19, 2019

In his next tweet Khader blamed the Centre. "By getting new laws, you have set the fire to the northern parts of India. In the midst of all this what happened to economic instability in the country? The Centre is just trying to divert attention from the real issues by implementing new laws,” he tweeted.