T: Cops ‘ban’ hate speech

Cops to book cases against Telangana, Seemandhra leaders

The state police will book cases under Section 153A of the Indian Penal Code against leaders of both Telangana and Seemandhra regions if they make statements promoting enmity between regional groups. Section 153A not only prohibits promoting enmity between groups based on religion, but also punishes hate speeches based on place of birth, residence and region. MIM MLA Akbaruddin Owaisi is facing charges under Section 153A for promoting religious enmity but police and legal experts are working on using the section to stop regional hatred too. Though during the Telangana and United Andhra agitations, political leaders and others made fiery speeches, no cases were booked against them.

Sources in the police department said that irre- spective of the decision on Telangana, any violation of the law will be viewed seriously and if anyone makes hate speeches based on region they will be arrested.

A senior police official said, “We would have done it much earlier, like in Mumbai. With the focus on Section 153A after the Akbaruddin episode, now we have to book cases against hate speech makers on regional basis too.”

The assistant solicitor general of India in AP High Court, P. Vishnuvardhan Reddy said, “Under Section 153A(1) a and b, whoever either by words or signs by visible representation promotes or attempts to promote feeling of hatred and disharmony between regional groups, has to be booked. Criminal cases can be registered either on receipt of a complaint from any person having knowledge of it, or by police suo motu. In statehood agitation, it is applicable for both sides. However, the fight for the cause of regional rights in a democratic manner shall not be crushed using this section.”