BJP MLA booked for bringing 'Ram-Allah' into politics

Mangaluru: Bantwal town police have registered a case against Karkala BJP MLA Sunil Kumar for making a provocative speech in Kalladka on January 22.

Following a complaint by the Congress president Prashanth Kulal on January 23, which stated that the MLA's statement could disrupt peace in the communally sensitive district, police have registered the case under IPC Sections 153(A) and 505(2).

It may be recalled that Sunil Kumar, the BJP MLA from Karkala embroiled himself in a controversy for making a provocative speech in Bantwal on January 22. Addressing a rally, Kumar had said, "The upcoming election is not a fight between Ramanath Rai and Rajesh Naik. It is between Ram and Allah. Bantwal should decide, whom they will support, Ram or Allah."

Kumar had also said, "Rai has attributed his 6 electoral wins to Muslim voters. It is a matter of self-respect." The statement however, has not gone down well with the people who are already witnessing communal clashes in Dakshina Kannada and Kalladka in particular.

Rai, while attending the Beary Cultural Festival organised by the Karnataka Beary Academy on December 26, had expressed his gratitude to the Muslim community members who didn't hold his religion as a barrier and voted him to power for six times in Bantwal taluk.