Bengaluru, April 7 (IANS) A delegation of the Karnataka unit of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday lodged a formal complaint against Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge with the State Director General and Inspector General of Police M.A. Saleem, alleging that he made a provocative speech during an election campaign in Assam.

In their submission, the BJP leaders demanded the immediate arrest of Kharge for allegedly inciting violence and called for enhanced security arrangements to ensure the safety of BJP workers.

In the complaint, BJP leaders alleged that Kharge, while addressing a public gathering, made remarks comparing the BJP and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to a “poisonous snake” and claimed that such statements could incite violence against party workers.

The delegation said that the Congress President’s remarks were inflammatory in nature and could endanger the lives of lakhs of BJP and RSS members across the country.

The BJP leaders said that Kharge, as the President of a national political party, holds a position of responsibility and that such statements could have far-reaching consequences.

They also alleged that the speech could disturb public peace and encourage misguided individuals to target members of the Sangh Parivar.

Citing provisions under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the complaint referred to Sections 196, 197, 299, and 353, which deal with promoting enmity between communities, acts prejudicial to national integration, outraging religious sentiments, and spreading statements that may incite fear or violence.

The delegation urged the police to take immediate legal action under these sections of the law.

The complaint also cited the Supreme Court’s ruling in the Shaheen Abdulla vs Union of India (2022) case, which directed law enforcement agencies to take suo motu action in instances of alleged hate speech without waiting for formal complaints.

The BJP delegation expressed concern over the law and order situation in Karnataka, where the Congress is currently in power, and claimed that such remarks could embolden anti-social elements.

They also referred to statements made by state Minister Priyank Kharge in the past, alleging a pattern of hostility towards the RSS.

A copy of the speech excerpt was submitted along with the complaint.

Meanwhile, there has been no immediate response from the Congress or Mallikarjun Kharge regarding the allegations.

The delegation included MLAs S. Muniraju, C.K. Rammurthy, Dheeraj Muniraju, Bengaluru North District BJP President S. Harish, BJP Central District President Saptagiri Gowda and State BJP Spokesperson S. Prakash.

–IANS

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