Ban on Togadia: Karnataka Assembly disrupted, VHP files petition

Bengaluru

Vishwa Hindu Parishad today said it has filed a petition in the Karnataka High Court seeking lifting of the ban on entry of its leader Praveen Togadia to attend a convention here from February five to 11.

“I have moved the High Court seeking lifting of the ban imposed by the city police on Togadia’s entry into the city for attending an event,” VHP Organising Secretary of Karnataka unit, Keshav Hegde said here.

He said the matter may come up for hearing tomorrow.

Togadia was scheduled to take part in the VHP convention ‘Hindu Viraat Samavesha’ on February 8.

The city police had imposed prohibitory orders banning Togadia’s entry on grounds of maintenance of law and order.

The police contended that his “provocative and inflammatory” speeches would have “grave” consequences and there was likelihood of breach of peace.

Hegde, in his petition, said Togadia on earlier occasions had attended eight such conventions in the state, and not a single instance of law and order was reported from anywhere.

Challenging the police contention, Hegde submitted that all court cases against Togadia for making alleged inflammatory speeches have been disposed of.

He said the Constitution has given right of freedom of expression to the citizens and hence, Togadia cannot be banned from entering the city and attending the convention.

The police had contended that provocative and inflammatory speeches of Togadia would have sufficiently grave consequences and there was every likelihood of breach of peace, danger to human life and disturbance of the public tranquility and communal harmony in the city.

They had also said 19 criminal cases were registered against Togadia all over the country for allegedly making inflammatory statements and showing disrespect to the Constitution.

Ban on Togadia: Karnataka Assembly disrupted

Dubbing the Congress government “anti-Hindu” and “anti-majority”, opposition BJP MLAs raised objection in the Karnataka Assembly today to the ban on VHP leader Praveen Togadia entering Bengaluru, leading to the adjournment of the House repeatedly.

BJP leader R Ashoka raised the issue as the House met for the day and questioned the government’s intention behind the action and called it an attempt to “suppress” the majority, leading to a heated argument between BJP and Congress MLAs.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah intervened to say government would not allow anything that disturbs peace in society. This further angered BJP members.

The Speaker said he would give permission to raise the issue during Zero Hour and Question Hour should be allowed to function smoothly, to which members agreed.

Police had yesterday banned Togadia from entering the city from February 5 to 11 on the grounds that his “provocative and inflammatory” speeches would have “grave” consequences and there was likelihood of breach of peace.

Asoka again raised the issue after Question Hour.

He said VHP’s programme here on Feb 8 to celebrate its 50th anniversary was expected to be attended by around 50,000 people. It would be attended by Seers of various Mutts and Togadia, “but Congress government has banned his entry.”

Questioning the reason behind the ban when such programmes with his attendance had been held peacefully in other parts of the state, he demanded they take it back and “government should not function against sentiments of the majority community.”

Opposition leader Jagadish Shettar who joined the chorus over the issue, sought a response from the government.

Minister R V Deshpande said Home Minister George would respond once he was back from the Legislative Council, but BJP MLAs objected and sought an answer from the Chief Minister, and entered the well, shouting slogans, terming government’s action dictatorial, “Emergency-like” and reflecting signs of “Hitlerism”.

Siddaramaiah said there should be peace in society and if anyone tried to disturb it, it would not be allowed. “We don’t differentiate between majority and minority,” he said.

As BJP MLAs began shouting slogans against government from the well, the Speaker adjourned the House for half an hour.

When the House met at 1.45 pm, BJP MLAs again rushed to the well shouting slogans against the government, holding posters reading “anti Hindu”. The Speaker again adjourned the House till 2.30 pm.

When it resumed post lunch, George defended the police act, saying government would take all necessary steps to maintain peace and normalcy in the state. He also said in many parts of the country, including Karnataka, 19 criminal cases had been registered against Togadia for inflammatory statements.

As BJP continued with the protest following this statement, the Speaker adjourned the House for 10 minutes.

When the House resumed, BJP MLAs again entered the well, shouting slogans and calling government “dictatorial”. The Speaker’s repeated request for normal functioning went in vain and he finally adjourned the House till tomorrow.

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