Eshwarappa’s Hate Speech: ‘Love Jihad’ in the times of polls

Bangalore, April 13: In poll bound Karnataka, politicians have started making provocative statements to woo voters.

In fact, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister KS Eshwarappa has courted trouble for his alleged "hate speech" in the run up to the elections. Karnataka Assembly Elections 2013 are slated on May 5.

At a public function in Shimoga on Sunday, April 7, Eshwarappa had allegedly said that a number of young Hindu girls had become victims of "love jihad", wherein Muslim youth allegedly lure Hindu women and dump them after exploiting them.

A criminal case has been filed against him in his home town Shimoga, 280 km north of Bangalore, for a speech that allegedly provokes hatred between communities, a police spokesperson told reporters on Friday.

The case against Eshwarappa followed a complaint by Shimoga district Congress leaders that the deputy chief minister's speech was aimed at instigating one community against the other and violated model code of conduct in force for the May 5 assembly polls.

The Election Commission has issued notices to Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and Maharashtra Home Minister RR Patil for allegedly making provocative speeches in poll-bound Karnataka in violation of the election code of conduct. The ministers have time till 5 pm today to file their replies.

OneIndia News