Kerala BJP leader P C George has been booked by police for allegedly making hate speech against the Muslim community during a television discussion, sparking widespread condemnation and demands for his arrest.
The Erattupetta Police registered a case against George on Friday based on a complaint filed by the Muslim Youth League Municipal Committee. According to the complaint, George’s statements were provocative and capable of inciting religious hatred. The Welfare Party of India also filed 50 complaints across the state regarding the same remarks. The complaints were also registered by the cadres of SDPI across Kerala.
During the discussion on Janam TV, George reportedly said: “I am sitting in Erattupetta and saying this. Out of the 40,000 population here, 38,600 are Muslims. There are no such communal forces without any conscience like you anywhere in this world. Do you have a conscience? Do you have a soft approach towards people from other religious groups? You should learn the diversity we show. Are we saying that any Muslims should be killed? If you are a Muslim, then you are communal. It’s become like that. You don’t want India but Pakistan. Go to Pakistan.”
Police confirmed that he has been charged under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, with further legal proceedings to follow.
Facing mounting backlash, George issued an apology on Facebook, stating: “I unconditionally retract my reply that all Muslims in India are terrorists, and I apologise to all my Muslim brothers and sisters who love this country who were hurt by it. But I clearly know that there is a small percentage of people among them who have anti-national extremist thoughts. I will always strongly oppose them and all those who silently support them.”
Former BJP leader and current Congress member Sandeep Warrier criticised both George and the BJP. Speaking to the media, Warrier remarked: “BJP was spreading poison in our society, but with the entry of P C George, it has become cyanide.”
This story was originally published in maktoobmedia.com. Read the full story here.