Congress Demands Arrest of BJP’s Karwar Candidate Ananth Kumar Hegde

BANGALORE, March 31:  TAKING a leaf from the arrest of BJP’s Pilibit candidate Varun Gandhi for his hate speech, the Congress party in Karnataka has urged the Election Commission to register a case against the saffron party’s Uttar Kannada candidate Ananth Kumar Hegde and arrest him for the alleged hate speeches with communal overtones. A Congress delegation led by Leader of the Opposition in the  state Legislative Council V S Ugrappa submitted a representation to Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) M N Vidyashankar and wanted the commission to register a case under the provisions of Sections 123 (3) (3A) and 125 of the Representation of People sAct 1951 and 171 (c) of the Indian Penal Code to ensure free and fair polling in the constituency. Speaking to reporters later, Ugrappa said the reported speeches of Hegde asserting that he was happy to seek the votes of the majority Hindu community and did not want the voters of minority communities of Muslims and Christians was a virtual repeat of the Varun Gandhi episode in the state. ``The BJP candidate seeks to create communal disharmony and disturbances, which are grave offences against the unity and integrity of the country," he said. The CEO said the coatal district’s Deputy Commissioner, who is also the Returning Officer,  has submitted a report and video clippings of Hegde’s speeches, which have been despatched to the Election Commission to take a suitable action. The commission had not yet taken a decision on the complaint against Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa’s election campaign in Dharwad district for violation of the model code of conduct by conducting election campaign beyond the permitted time of 10 pm, Vidyashankar said.