HC seeks transcript of Dr Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat's 'hate Muslim' speech

Bangalore, October 9: The High Court of Karnataka on Monday directed the police to submit in two weeks a transcript of the alleged incendiary speech by Rashtriya Swayam Sevak Sangha leader Dr Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat at Hindu Samajotsava at Uppinangady in January this year.

Observing that “nobody has any right to indulge in making personal attacks on any community,” the Court on Monday adjourned to October 31 the hearing on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) plea, which had sought action against Prabhakar Bhat Kalladka, a senior functionary of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), for making “inflammatory” speech.

The Bench comprising of Chief Justice Vikramajit Sen and Justice B V Nagarathna made these observations when the government counsel informed the court that the police have already filed a 'B' report in the case registered against Mr. Bhat on the allegation that he delivered a “hate Muslim” speech at a Hindu Samajotsav at Uppinangadi on January 22, 2012. Earlier, the counsel for Mr. Bhat submitted that the allegations made in the petition were “far from truth” and claimed that Mr. Bhat had not instigated anybody.

Suresh Bhat Bakrabail, President of Karnataka Komu Souharda Vedike, has filed the PIL charging Dr Bhat with hate speech during the event. The advocate for Dr Bhat claimed that there was no substantial evidence for the charges against the latter and that the Vedike was not a registered organisation.

Chief Justice Vikramajit Sen took exception to the submission and sought to know whether the government wants a civil war in the State and the country.

“Don't reduce Karnataka into a civil war zone. The image of the country is going down because of these kinds of people. India was known as a centre of learning of philosophy and tolerance. These types of people are the ones who spoil the image of our country,” he noted.

However, the petitioner, Mr Bakrabail, informed the court that they have the CD of the speech of Mr. Bhat and would submit the transcripts to the court in two weeks. The counsel also claimed that there was an attack on members of a particular community a day after the speech.

The PIL said the provocative speech led to a tense situation in Uppinangady and despite that the police allowed Dr Bhat to continue with his talk.