Video Producer: Shohini Bose
Video Editor: Ashutosh Bharadwaj
A day after student activist Amulya Leona was arrested on charges of sedition for shouting slogans in favour of Pakistan, Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa said “she has links with naxals”. Calling the incident an “organised conspiracy”, he said organisations supporting her should be investigated.
Talking to reporters in Bengaluru on Friday, 21 February, Yediyurappa said: “Firstly, Amulya’s father himself asked for his daughter’s legs to be chopped off, that she should not get bail and he will not go to protect her etc. Secondly, most importantly, we have to take action against the organisations behind her. Unless we take strict action against those organisations creating and supporting people like this girl, this won't end,” he said.
He further added:
“Prima facie it is clear that there is a conspiracy to disturb law and order behind this. It has already been proven that earlier the girl had links with naxals. This needs to be punished and the organisation behind this also should be investigated and punished.”
Amulya has been booked under sections 124 A (sedition) 153 (promoting enmity between different groups) and 505 (2) Statements creating or promoting enmity. She has been sent to a 14-day judicial custody.
Karnataka Congress leader DK Shivakumar also commented on the matter on Saturday, 22 February.
"There's no question of supporting her. We need to set aside politics when it comes to the country," he said. "But we should also listen and try to know what she was trying to say. I have listened her speak earlier. So I am telling that we need to be patient and try to understand what the girl was trying to say."
Another Activist Detained for Pro-Kashmir Placard
On Friday morning, another activist was detained by Bengaluru police after they held a pro-Kashmir placard during a protest.
“When Hindu Jagarana Vedike workers had gathered at Town Hall, to whom permission was given by DCP central, to protest about yesterday’s (Thursday) incident, one individual, came and sat among the crowd with a placard in Kannada which read: Kashmir Mukthi, Dalit Mukthi, Muslim Mukthi,” said Bengaluru police commissioner Bhaskar Rao.
Soon the crowd gathered around them and they had to be rescued by the police. “For their own safety, under the supervision of the DCP central, they were taken away from the location. We will find out where they have come from and who is behind them,” he added.
The commissioner clarified that they have not raised any slogan and they have not been arrested.
Amulya’s Father Filed Complaint Against Vandalism
A group of right activists, estimated to be around 150, gathered outside Amulya’s house in Chikkamagluru and vandalised the house. Windowpanes of the house were broken by the mob who allegedly heckled her father.
Chikkamagaluru police said they have registered a complaint and they have taken her father into police protection. A unit of policemen have been deployed outside her house as well.
On the CM’s comment on her having naxal links, Chikkamagaluru police said that her father had given bail bond to two naxals who surrendered under a government scheme and they are getting details of this case at present.
Congress and JD(S) Oppose Statement
Former Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy on Friday condemned Amulya’s sloganeering. “The country is most important. It is the duty of every citizen to do our duties towards the country. What the girl has done yesterday brings disrespect to the country and it should be investigated,” he said.
Even the Congress party issued tweet: “Raising slogans in favour of an enemy is wrong and contemptable. This government should take action immediately.”
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