Chennai: Karnataka police arrested the state secretary of Hindu Mahasabha, Dharmendra, for allegedly issuing threats to Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and the BJP government for demolishing a temple in the Mysuru district.
According to a PTI report, Dharmendra, while addressing a press conference in Mangaluru on Saturday, said that Hindu Mahasabha would not spare the "spineless" BJP government led by Basavaraj Bommai if the latter continued to demolish temples in the state.
Referring to the names of Chief Minister Bommai, former Chief Minister Yediyurappa, and Muzrai Minister Shashikala Jolle, he said, “We had not spared Gandhi. You are nothing to us at all. We will not spare you also.”, the report quoted.
Pointing out how Sangh Parivar organizations have been taking up fights against the demolition of temples, he said that if they are really sincere in what they do, they should back the Hindu Mahasabha and defeat the BJP in the upcoming elections, the report said.
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Quoting police sources, the report said that Karnataka police have booked a case under sections of 120 (B) (criminal conspiracy), 153 (A) (promoting enmity between religious groups), 505 (2) (statements conducing to public mischief), and 506 (criminal intimidation) of IPC against Dharmendra.
Reacting to Dharmendra’s remarks, HMS state president Lohith Kumar filed a complaint against him for misusing the organization’s name to criticize the BJP government and an FIR was registered against Dharmendra based on his complaint, the report said.
However, HMS leader Rajesh Pavithran condemned the police for registering a case against him and others who were not present at the press meet, the report added.