Belthangady police booked Harish Poonja, Belthangady MLA, and another person for hate speech, following Mr. Poonja’s recent speech in which he allegedly accused Chief Minister Siddaramaiah of killing 24 Hindus.
Namita K., a resident of Belthangady. On Pujari’s complaint, police booked Poonja and event organizer Jayant Kotian for offenses punishable under sections 153 (intentional provocation with intent to cause riot), 153(A) (promoting enmity between parties). groups on grounds of religion, race), and 505 (statements conducive to public mischief) of the Indian Penal Code.
During his speech at a felicitation function organized by the Bharatiya Janata Party in Belthangady on May 22, Mr. Poonja expressed unhappiness over former BJP district unit functionary Satyajit Suratkal campaigning against him in Belthangady constituency.
“Satyanna, if you had campaigned against me, if I had betrayed Hindutva, I would have agreed. If I had gone against the ideals of Hindutva, I would have agreed too. But I will ask you one thing. How can you ask for votes in favor of Mr. Siddaramaiah who is accused of killing 24 Hindus? How can you ask for votes for the Congress which has spoken of banning Bajrang Dal. The people of Belthangady are asking you what kind of Hindutva you are practicing,” Mr Poonja reportedly said.