Former Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy Thursday condemned the police for submitting an FIR in opposition to Bharatiya Kisan Union chief Rakesh Tikait in reference to a “provocative speech” he delivered in Shivamogga final weekend.
“If they really wanted to book cases against those indulging in provocative speeches, how many cases should have been booked against BJP leaders by now?” Kumaraswamy mentioned.
The senior Janata Dal (Secular) chief demanded the withdrawal of instances in opposition to Tikait. “It is well within the rights granted by the Constitution to take up struggles and to give a call for struggle. He did not call for assaulting or killing. The case against Tikait should be withdrawn at the earliest,” Kumaraswamy added.
Addressing a farmers’ mahapanchayat in Shivamogga, his first in South India, Tikait had urged Karnataka farmers to put siege to Bengaluru with their tractors, in protest in opposition to the three contentious farm legal guidelines, and convert town into the point of interest of agitation, like in Delhi.
“….you have to turn Bengaluru into Delhi. You will have to lay siege to the city from all directions,” he had mentioned in his March 20 speech.
Later, on March 23, an FIR was registered at Kote police station in Shivamogga on suo motu foundation over the alleged provocative speech. According to the police, part 153 (wantonly giving provocation with intent to trigger riot) of the Indian Penal Code was invoked in opposition to the farmer chief.
At the identical assembly, Hasiru Sene Chief Kodihalli Chandrashekhar additionally supported name for bandh on March 26 to accentuate the protests in opposition to the Centre’s farm legal guidelines