FIR Complaint against 14 VHP members for Hate Speech, Karnataka

Activists from as many as 14 civil society organizations, including women's organisations have filed a complaint with the Karnataka Director General of Police (DGP) against alleged communal hate speech by Sharan Pumpwell, a leader of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), asking for an FIR to be registered against him. Sharan Pumpwell, in a press briefing on August 9 in Mangaluru, threatened the Muslim community while accusing the community of shielding terrorists and supporting "love jihad". "I am giving a straightforward warning to those involved in 'love jihad' activities and supporting it and helping these 'anti-social elements'. This must be stopped immediately. We will be protesting against these incidents and if this continues, in the future, it may [result in] a protest, or even a fight or clash. For all the incidents in the future, you (Muslim community) are responsible for it," a clip of Sharan from the event shows him as saying. In the complaint, activists sought registration of an FIR against Sharan, and said that the language used in the press conference was an “assault on the Constitution, democracy, and secularism.” “He further goes on to make baseless and grave allegations of Hindu women being used for terrorist activities and sex trade,” the letter states, adding that these statements were fuelled solely by “communal hatred”.

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