Bengaluru: Amnesty India says charges in sedition case 'without substance'

New Delhi: Amnesty International India on Tuesday rejected the allegations against it in a sedition case in Bengaluru and said the charges mentioned in the FIR are "without substance".   An FIR on Monday was registered against Amnesty International India under various IPC sections, including sedition, in connection with alleged raising of "independence" slogans by "pro-freedom" Kashmiris who entered into heated arguments with a Kashmiri Pandit leader for hailing Indian Army.   “The allegations mentioned in the complaint are without substance. They are preventing the families of victims of human rights violations in Jammu and Kashmir from having their stories heard. And preventing civil society organisations from enabling these families to exercise their constitutional right to justice,” Amnesty India said in a statement.   Giving a point-to-point rebuttal to the allegations, the NGO said that no Amnesty International India employee shouted any slogans at any point. “The only discussion at the event was about allegations of human rights violations and the denial of justice to families in Kashmir. The focus of the event was squarely on allegations of human rights violations and the denial of justice in Jammu and Kashmir. No Amnesty International India employee was involved in any form of assault against anyone. Towards the end of the event, some of those who attended raised slogans, some of which referred to calls for ‘Azaadi’ (freedom),” its statement further read.   The event was organised by Amnesty International India at United Theological College here.   Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara had said the intention and background of those involved will be investigated.   ABVP activists, who staged a protest against the event calling it "anti-national", had also filed a complaint with the police along with a CD containing video recording of the event.   (With inputs from PTI)