VHP leader Praveen Togadia's speech played at Bengaluru rally, police ban defied

Bengaluru: Defying multi-media gag by police, VHP leader Praveen Togadia’s video recorded speech was played at a rally in Bengaluru on Sunday in which he called for Ghar Wapsi (homecoming) and establishment of “Constitutional Hindu Nation”.

Additional Commissioner of Police (Bengaluru) Alok Kumar said, “We have taken note of the violation; we will get opinion of our legal officers and we will take further action.”

At ‘Virat Hindu Samajotsava’ rally, Togadia said in his recorded speech,"…We want security, security for hundred crore Hindus… We want prosperity for Hindus… We want honour for Hindus…"

The organisers played the address ignoring the police orders banning displaying or transmitting the speech through audio, visual or other media.

Police had issued fresh orders on Saturday imposing the multi-media gag after the Karnataka High Court had upheld its ban prohibiting entry of Togadia into the city for a week from 5 February.

Apprehending that the ‘Samajotsava’ organisers might circumvent the ban by showing Togadia’s speech using audio or visual media, Bengaluru Police Commissioner MN Reddi had issued the orders.

Togadia left for Ahmedabad from Hosur in Tamil Nadu via Bengaluru where he was taken to the airport, police said earlier in the day.

Security was beefed up around the venue and in sensitive parts of the city, with policemen, assisted by Rapid Action Force, Quick Response Teams and other security personnel deployed in good strength.

“…let no one teach us about tolerance, from the time when this universe was created we have tolerance, if we were not tolerant, people from across the world couldn’t have come and settled here,” Togadia said.

“Those who do religious conversions are the enemies of tolerance. Hindus have never done religious conversions. Hindus have been converted, now Hindus will not be converted, we will do Ghar Wapsi…”

As Togadia spoke, a huge crowd gathered at the National High School Ground cheered and raised slogans in his praise. They also raised slogans against Siddaramaiah government holding it responsible for banning his entry into the city.

“…we won’t allow Hindus (number of Hindu’s) to recede;…for security and prosperity of Hindus, the government in the country has to think about Hindus, for this we have to establish a Samvidanik Hindu Rashtra,” Togadia said.

Justice Abdul Nazir of Karnataka High Court had on Friday turned down the interim prayer by Karnataka VHP to stay the police commissioner’s order, banning Togadia’s entry into the city from 5 to 11 February.

Reddi had earlier this week imposed the ban on the ground that Togadia’s “provocative” and “inflammatory” speeches would have “grave” consequences and there likelihood of breach of peace.

VHP had challenged the Commissioner’s orders on Togadia’s entry into the city in the High Court with the interim prayer for a stay on the ban.

While declining the interim plea, the Judge, however, had said Hegde’s petition was maintainable and adjourned the matter without mentioning the next date of hearing.

PTI