Hate Speech Beda complains with EC against Tejasvi Surya’s Muslim hate comments

The incendiary and inflammable comments against the Muslim community made by Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya in connection with the attack of a Hindu shop owner over playing Hanuman Chalisa have prompted the activist group Hate Speech Beda to complain to the Election Commission for breaching the Model Code of Conduct. The Bengaluru police have also registered an FIR against Surya for the same.

The root of the conflict stems from a video shared by Surya on social media, showing the purported assault of a Hindu shopkeeper named Mukesh, allegedly for playing Hanuman Chalisa during Azan, the Islamic call to prayer.

However, Surya's accompanying remarks have sparked intense controversy, with critics accusing him of promoting untrue narratives and inciting violence against the Muslim community.

The complaint, filed with both the Election Commission and Karnataka police, accuses Surya of a litany of offences, including disseminating factually incorrect and inflammatory statements, inciting communal disharmony, and engaging in an unlawful assembly.

Hate Speech Beda has further lambasted Surya for allegedly conducting a "parallel trial" and impeding the ongoing investigation into the assault, asserting that his actions serve to exacerbate tensions rather than promote justice.

Adding fuel to the fire, Surya has been formally booked by the Bengaluru police under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Representation of the People Act. These charges encompass promoting disharmony between religious groups, outraging religious sentiments, and attempting to stoke enmity or hatred among citizens. The gravity of these accusations underscores the severity of the situation confronting the embattled MP.

However, the situation becomes more complex as the story surrounding the assault undergoes a significant twist. An FIR filed after the incident suggests that there was no religious motivation behind the attack on Mukesh, directly contradicting Surya's assertions. all five individuals implicated in the assault have been apprehended by the police.

In a related development, BJP MP PC Mohan and Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje have also come under scrutiny for their alleged roles in disrupting communal harmony and engaging in unlawful assembly. The widening net of accusations underscores the broader implications of divisive rhetoric in the political arena, especially in the lead-up to elections.

The controversy surrounding Surya has highlighted the rigorous regulations outlined in the Model Code of Conduct, which aim to uphold the integrity of the electoral system and curb the spread of hate speech. Hate Speech Beda has fervently urged the Election Commission to swiftly address Surya and the BJP's alleged breaches of these rules.