Karnataka Seer Chandrashekara Swami Booked For Remarks On Voting Rights For Muslims

Kumara Chandrashekaranatha Swamiji, while addressing the gathering in Bengaluru, criticised Karnataka Waqf Board’s actions and expressed his concerns over the protection of farmers' land.

Kumara Chandrashekaranatha Swamiji suggested that Muslims should be deprived of their voting rights and emphasised the need to oppose policies he described as unjust. 

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An FIR has been registered against Kumara Chandrashekaranatha Swamiji, the seer of the Vishwa Vokkaliga Mahasamastana Math in Karnataka, following his controversial remarks about denying voting rights to Muslims. The statement, made during a protest meeting organised by the Bharatiya Kisan Sangh on Tuesday, has sparked legal action and widespread condemnation.

Swamiji, while addressing the gathering in Bengaluru, criticised the Karnataka Waqf Board’s actions and expressed his concerns over the protection of farmers' land. He suggested that Muslims should be deprived of their voting rights and emphasised the need to oppose policies he described as unjust. 

"...everyone should fight against injustice being caused to farmers...it is said that the Waqf board can claim anyone's land. It is a big injustice...someone taking away someone else's land is not Dharma... So, everyone should fight to ensure that farmers' land remains with them," the seer had said, as per a report on PTI.

His comments drew immediate backlash particularly for suggesting a revocation of voting rights based on religion. On Wednesday, Swamiji attempted to clarify his statement, calling it a "slip of the tongue." He expressed regret, stating that Muslims, like all citizens, have the right to vote. He apologised for any hurt caused by his earlier remarks.

Despite the apology, a complaint was filed by a social worker, prompting police to register the FIR on Wednesday at Upparpet police station. The FIR was filed under Section 299 of the Indian Penal Code, which addresses deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings.

A senior police officer told PTI, "We have registered a case against him (Swamiji) under section 299 (Deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita."