Plea filed before Karnataka High Court seeking action against Ministers, MLAs/ MPs for alleged anti-Muslim hate speech

A petition has been filed before the Karnataka High Court seeking action action against a number of State ministers, Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs) and Members of Parliament (MPs) for hate speech against the Muslim community [Mohammed Khalelulla v. State of Karnataka and Ors]..The plea by one Mohammed Khalelulla stated that repeated speeches have been made across Karnataka by people's representatives and leaders deliberately attacking Muslims.The petitioner had made a representation to take immediate action against a number of ministers, including KS Eshwarappa, MP Renukacharya, CT Ravi, Prathap Simha, Rishikumara Swamy, Pramod Mutalik, Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, Shobha Karanjadale, Tejasvi Surya and Sullibele Chakrabarthy, who are all Members of the Legislative Assembly of Karnataka or Members of Parliament, alleging that they made hateful and inflammatory speeches which could lead to violence and polarisation in society. .However, the plea said that no action was taken on these speeches by authorities even though they were in violation of the guidelines of the Supreme Court in Tahseen Poonawalla v. Union of India and Ors.By ignoring these acts, the authorities are emboldening and giving a free pass to create communal disharmony and hatred in the State for political purposes, the petition alleged. The plea listed a number of news articles with details of the hateful speeches made by the ministers, and YouTube links of the alleged hate speeches. .The petition sought action to be taken against the public officials and Ministers and for awareness to be created on television, radio, and other platforms about hate speech, mob violence, lynching and the consequences of it.The plea also prayed for a direction to the State of Karnataka to comply with the orders and directions of the Supreme Court. Pertinently, the petitioner sought issuance of a notification to designate a court in each district to try hate speech and lynching cases on a speedy basis. .The petition has been filed through Advocate R Kothwal.