Journalist Arrested In Karnataka Over Speech Against Tipu Jayanti

A journalist with a Kannada daily has been arrested in Tumakuru in Karnataka for his alleged inflammatory speech against the recent Tipu Jayanti celebrations, following which the BJP condemned the police action and demanded his release.

Santosh Thammaiah employed with the daily, "Hosa Digantha", was arrested on the night of November 12 under Indian Penal Code section 295(A) (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings), police said on Tuesday, November 13.

The Tipu Jayanti celebrations marking the birth anniversary of the controversial 18th century Mysore kingdom ruler Tipu Sultan were held across the state on November 10 amid protests by the BJP and right-wing organizations.

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Calling Tipu a "religious bigot", the state BJP unit had urged the state government to drop its decision to celebrate the Jayanti. Thammaiah was arrested from his in-laws' residence in Madhugiri in Tumakuru, Editor of the daily Vinayak Bhat told PTI.

A local newspaper had published a report quoting his speech made at a protest against Tipu Jayanti at Gonikoppal in Kodagu district on November 9, based on which the arrest was made, Bhat claimed.

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Condemning the action against the journalist, BJP state general secretary Aravinda Limbavali said it was "a cowardly act" on the part of the Congress-JDS coalition government to arrest a person exercising his democratic right of freedom of speech. In a statement, he demanded the immediate release of Thammaiah and said the BJP would launch a statewide agitation if he was not let off.