Case against Hindu outfit leader for hate speech

A Hindu outfit leader was booked for allegedly making a hate speech at a public function on Friday.

Addressing a function organised by the "Hindu Aikyavedi" at North Paravur, the outfit's Kerala president K.P. Sasikala had allegedly urged secular writers to conduct Mrityunjaya Homam (ritual ceremony to overcome death) at Lord Shiva temples to save them from meeting a fate similar to that of journalist-activist Gauri Lankesh in Karnataka.

The 55-year-old Left-leaning journalist, a fierce critic of Hindutva politics, was shot dead at the doorstep of her house while she was returning from her office on September 5.

The police said Sasikala has been booked under the charge of wantonly provocating with intent to cause a riot.

A case also has been registered against R.V. Babu, another leader of the Hindu Aikyavedi, for making a provocative speech at the function, the police said.

The case was registered based on a complaint by Congress MLA V.D. Satheeshan.

Her speech, telecast by media, was criticised by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Congress leaders.

Apparently referring to allegations seeking to link the killing of Gauri to the BJP or people following its ideology, Sasikala had said there was no need for them to indulge in such acts.

She had alleged that Congress in Karnataka was capitalising on such issues and said the party was "facing continuous electoral defeats".

Speaking in Kannur yesterday, Vijayan had said that asking thinkers and writers to conduct Mrityunjaya Homam was meant to disrupt the progress made by Kerala society.

Leader of the opposition in Kerala assembly, Ramesh Chennithala, urged the government to book Sasikala for her controversial speech under non-bailable sections of IPC.

The BJP and the Hindu Aikyavedi alleged that the visual media had aired a "distorted version" of her speech.