Tamil orator charged over provocative speech

CHENNAI: Celebrated Tamil orator and academician Nellai Kannan has been booked by police in Tirunelveli on charges of making “provocative” remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah at a protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in the city recently.

Kannan called for the murder of the two leaders, the police say.

The protest was organised by the extremist Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI).

Cases have been filed under three sections against Kannan. He is accused of having said at the meeting: “There is one guy called Amit Shah. Modi is the Prime Minister but Amit Shah is his brains. If Amit Shah is finished off, Modi is finished too.

“But none of you are finishing it. Let that be to one side. I keep thinking you all will do something,” he allegedly told the Muslim dignitaries who were on the stage.

Velmurugan of the Tamizhaga Vazhvurimai Katchi and Nellai Mubarak, state chief of the SDPI, were present.

The state unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party lodged several complaints with the police as soon as the speech went viral on Internet.

BJP spokesperson Narayanan Thirupathi alleged in the complaint that Kannan called out the names of Prime Minister and Home Minister at the meeting. He alleged that Kannan slammed Modi and Shah duo for bringing the CAA.

“First of all, he openly and derogatorily abused various political leaders of the country which does not amount to decent criticism,” the complaint says.

“Importantly, he calls out the name of the Prime Minister and Home Minister of the country and says he is shocked as to why Muslims have not yet killed the Prime Minister and Home Minister, and says he hopes that one Muslim kills them.

“His entire speech is nothing but one to incite hatred and enmity between religious groups of Hindus and Muslims. I request the authorities to kindly arrest the said Mr Nellai Kannan and prosecute him.” In his more than half-an-hour address, the orator resorted to uncivil and abusive language, he said.

Kannan has been booked under 504 [Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace], 505(1)(b) [with intent to cause, or which is likely to cause, fear or alarm to the public, or to any section of the public whereby any person may be induced to commit an offence against the State or against the public tranquility], and 505 (2) [statements which create or promote enmity, hatred or ill-will between classes] of the Indian Penal Code, the police said.