BJP denounces arrest of journalist Santosh Thammaiah who insulted Prophet Muhammad

Newsroom, Nov 13: Several leaders of Bharatiya Janata Party in Karnataka have condemned the arrest of Santosh Thammaiah, a saffronist journalist whose abusive remarks against the Prophet Muhammad had gone viral on social media.

Speaking at a programme in Kodagu district recently Thammaiah, who is the editor of Aseema Patrike, had claimed that the tenets preached by the Prophet in Arabia centuries ago was full of intolerance and selfishness. He went on to claim that Tipu Sultan became the first terrorist of India by following the teachings of the Prophet. BJP activists had widely circulated the media reports of his provocative speech.

Following several complaints Kodagu’s Gonikoppal police arrested Thammaiah last night from a village in Madhugiri Taluk.

Journalist-turned-politician Pratap Simha, who is also the MP from Mysuru-Kodagu constituency was first to denounce the arrest. “You timid govt, arrested my dear friend Santhosh Thammaiah. We vl fight it out (sic),” he tweeted.

“Santosh Thammaiah who spoke about the brutalities against Hindus by Tyrant Tippu Sultan has been arrested by the Communal Government in Karnataka. Bhagavan & Pseudo Intellectuals like him who have consistently abused Hindu Gods are roaming free,” CT Ravi, BJP general secretary and Chikkamagaluru MLA, tweeted.

BJP Karnataka General Secretary and Member of Karnataka Legislative Assembly Aravinda Limbavali on Tuesday condemned arrest of Thammaiah and held state government responsible for it.

Demanding his immediate release, Mr Limbavali warned that State BJP will stage state-wide agitation if he was not released and FIR filed against him was withdrawn by the state government.

In a statement here on Tuesday, Mr Limbavali said: "Arrest of journalist Santosh Thammaiah is a sledge-hammer blow on the freedom of the press."