New Delhi: Senior political leader and former Kerala MLA PC George was arrested in the early hours of Sunday from his residence at Erattupeta in Kottayam district, Kerala. The arrest followed the reported hate speech that he had delivered during 'Ananathapuri Hindu Mahasammelan' at Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday.
Besides taking him into custody, the Fort Police in Thiruvananthapuram has registered suo moto case against him under sections 153A IPC.
The Kerala Congress leader was allowed to come to the state capital in his own vehicle and was accompanied by a huge police contingent in the wake of several organisations coming out against his speech. The Muslim League and CPI-M had complained about George's hate speech.
A heavy police contingent was deployed across the roads through which George was brought to Thiruvananthapuram. George had given a vitriolic speech in which he had lashed out against the Muslim community.
BJP state president, K Surendran flayed the arrest of PC George and said that the arrest was part of the policy followed by the Pinarayi Vijayan government of curbing the right of free speech. In a statement, the BJP leader said that "the Islamic fundamentalists and moulvis had got away with making hate speeches that had created a divide in society and Pinarayi Vijayan and his police were on selective 'amnesia'."
The 'Ananthapuri Hindu Mahasammelan' had drawn great interest in Kerala with Hindu speakers from various walks of life attending the programme. Union Minister of State for External Affairs, V Muraleedharan will address the event on Sunday.