A fiery speech by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Member of Legislative Council (MLC) C.T. Ravi at a Ganesha idol immersion event in Maddur, Karnataka, has landed him in legal trouble, with police registering a case against him for allegedly making inflammatory remarks targeting the minority community. The incident, which took place on Wednesday, September 10, during a mass immersion event in Mandya district, has intensified tensions in the region already reeling from a stone-pelting incident during a Ganesha procession on September 7.

The case was filed under Section 196(1)(a) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which addresses promoting enmity between groups on grounds of religion, race, or other factors, following a complaint by a police officer at Maddur police station. Ravi’s remarks, delivered at an event organized by Hindutva groups to protest the earlier stone-pelting, included provocative statements warning of violent retaliation against those who challenge Hindus, invoking historical figures and accusing the Congress-led Karnataka government of being “anti-Hindu.”

The September 7 stone-pelting incident, where miscreants targeted a Ganesha idol procession passing a mosque, has led to 22 arrests and fueled communal tensions in Maddur. The BJP, leveraging the unrest, called for a bandh on Tuesday, September 9, while senior leaders, including Ravi, state president B.Y. Vijayendra, and Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka, joined Wednesday’s immersion event to demonstrate solidarity. The event, marked by saffron-clad crowds chanting “Jai Shri Ram,” was seen as a show of strength by right-wing groups.

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Police are investigating Ravi’s speech, with a senior officer confirming that the case stems from his comments targeting Muslims, whom he allegedly called “outsiders” and threatened with severe consequences. The officer stated that the investigation will examine video evidence and witness accounts to determine the full extent of the remarks’ impact. Meanwhile, the stone-pelting probe continues, with authorities analyzing CCTV footage to identify additional suspects.

The controversy has drawn sharp criticism, with opposition leaders accusing the BJP of stoking communal divisions ahead of upcoming elections. The Congress government, led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, has vowed to maintain law and order, deploying additional police to prevent further escalation. Local residents expressed mixed sentiments, with some supporting Ravi’s stance as a defense of Hindu sentiments, while others fear it could deepen communal rifts in the culturally sensitive Mandya district.

This incident adds to Ravi’s history of polarizing rhetoric, as he previously faced legal action for social media posts deemed divisive. As the investigation unfolds, the case against Ravi underscores the delicate balance between free speech and communal harmony in Karnataka, with implications for the state’s political landscape.

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