Udupi, Mar 21: Journalist-turned-activist Dinesh Amit Mattu and four other social activists have been charged with “provoking religious sentiments” and violating the model code of conduct after criticized communal Hindutva at a programme recently.
According to the Udupi police, a case had been registered against the organiser and the four speakers at the ‘Sarvajanotsava’, a communal harmony programme held on March 17.
The complaint was filed by K.V. Nagaraj, officer of the Flying Squad Team, Udupi-Chikkamagaluru parliamentary constituency.
The programme was organised by the Sahabalve organisation, headed by Congress leader Amrit Shenoy. According to the complainant, Dinesh Amin Mattu, senior journalist and former media adviser to Chief Minister; Mahendra Kumar, G.N. Nagaraj, social activists, and Indudhar Honnapur, Dalit thinker, had in their speeches allegedly violated the code of conduct by “provoking religious sentiments” and attempting to influence voters.
Mr. Shenoy, who had got permission for programme, had violated code of conduct, the complainant said.
Rubbishing the allegations, Mr Mattu said he did not make any statements that provoked communal sentiments, but only argued that the term ‘Hindu’ was being misused and one needed to define who a Hindu is.
Mr. Nagaraj said that he had pointed out how communal hatred was systematically being used as a political tool across the world, including India.
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