Gowri Lankesh, K. L. Ashok sued for delivering inflammatory speeches

Gowri Lankesh, K. L. Ashok sued for delivering inflammatory speeches

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Aug 21, 2012 : The Mangalore police have registered cases under IPC Section 153A (promoting enmity among classes) against Gowri Lankesh, secular writer known for her outspoken nature, and K. L. Ashok, communal harmony activist, for allegedly making inflammatory statements of a communal nature at a meeting held to protest against the attack on young people at Morning Mist Home Stay in Mangalore.

A Hindutva activist called Deepak lodged a complaint against the two at Mangalore South (Pandeshwar) Police Station on Monday. According to the complainant, the two made unforgivable statements against Hindu Dharma and tried to promote religious enmity among different groups of people. The complainant called the speeches “inflammatory.” He also submitted video clippings of the speeches to prove his point.

In her response to the complaint, Gowri Lankesh said that she will fight. Asserting that her Dharma is the Indian Constitution, she said that she only re-affirmed her faith in the Indian Constitution during her speech. Stating that she had expected such a reaction from Hindutva activists, she said that she will fight a legal battle against them. Confirming that this is the first such case of its kind registered against her, she said that she already faces a number of cases, which were slapped against her during various stages of her eventful journalistic career.

Ashok said that this is the 14th case of its kind registered against him for speaking out his mind against saffron outfits and their activities in Karnataka.

Both Ms. Lankesh and Mr. Ashok had delivered protest speeches in front of the DC’s office in Mangalore, at a demonstration organized by the Karnataka Komu Souharda Vedike on August 4, in protest against the attack on young people at a home stay by Hindu Jagarana Vedike activists.