Accusing the Congress-led Karnataka government of indulging in selective and politically motivated crackdowns, BJP state general secretary and Udupi MLA V. Sunil Kumar has lashed out at the Siddaramaiah administration, claiming it is engaging in “hate politics” by taking action only against Hindu leaders in the sensitive Dakshina Kannada district while turning a blind eye to hate speech from other communities.
In the wake of an FIR being registered against 15 Hindu organisation members, including prominent RSS leader Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat, Sunil Kumar issued a scathing statement alleging that the state government is not cracking down on those who openly incite communal hatred with violent and inflammatory rhetoric.
“Why is there no action against those who publicly spoke of attacking with swords and spears? Why is action being taken only against Hindus? This kind of one-sided action is unacceptable,” Sunil Kumar questioned, accusing the Congress government of systematically misusing its power under the garb of curbing hate speech.
‘Police raj’ in coastal Karnataka?
Sunil Kumar further claimed that the Siddaramaiah government is attempting to impose a “police raj” in the coastal districts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi, traditionally strongholds of the BJP. According to him, the state is unfairly targeting Hindu leaders while ignoring provocative and threatening statements made by leaders from other communities.
“The state government itself is promoting hate speech, yet they are criminalising only one side. Who really incited hatred in Dakshina Kannada? Why is the police not acting against those spreading violent messages? Is legal action reserved only for those protesting police excesses or sharing messages on social media?” Sunil Kumar asked.
FIR against RSS leader Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat
The recent controversy erupted after an FIR was filed against RSS leader Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat at the Bantwal Rural Police Station. He has been accused of delivering a provocative speech during the Suhas Shetty Shraddhanjali event held on May 12 at the Marriage Palace Hall in Kavalapadur village.
The FIR, registered under Section 353(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), alleges that Bhat’s statements were aimed at disturbing public harmony and provoking inter-community hostility. The police have maintained that strict action will be taken against all those inciting communal hatred in the district.
Deportation notice against BJP leader Arun Kumar Puttila
In another controversial move, the Puttur Division Assistant Commissioner has issued a deportation notice to BJP leader Arun Kumar Puttila, directing him to leave Dakshina Kannada and relocate to Shahabad police station limits in Kalaburagi district. The notice was served under Section 58 of the Karnataka Police Act, 1963, citing Puttila’s alleged role in stoking communal tensions.
The hearing for this deportation has been scheduled for June 6, 2025, under Section 55 of the Karnataka Police Act. The notice cautions that if Puttila fails to appear in person or through legal representation, the matter will be decided unilaterally.
Interestingly, the deportation notice does not detail the specific charges or reasons behind the move, raising serious concerns within the BJP and among Hindu organisations about the government’s intent.
Hate threats and double standards?
Further inflaming tensions, BJP leaders have pointed to death threats allegedly issued against Hindu leaders in the name of the Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed. Despite the gravity of such threats, they allege, the police have not shown the same urgency in pursuing those cases as they have in filing FIRs against Hindu figures.
“This government’s hypocrisy is blatant. It remains silent on radical elements from other groups but is relentless in going after leaders of Hindu organisations. This isn’t justice — it’s political vendetta,” a BJP spokesperson told Organiser.
The BJP has demanded that the Congress government immediately stop its “biased and selective targeting” of Hindu leaders and ensure that action against hate speech is applied evenly across communities, without political or religious favouritism.
