Karnataka BJP chief BS Yeddyurappa led the protests against Amnesty in Bengaluru today.
The opposition BJP in Karnataka has demanded that the charges of sedition against human rights group Amnesty International should be probed by the National Investigative Agency, the country's premier anti-terror agency.
This morning, Karnataka BJP president BS Yeddyurappa led protests at the Bengaluru Town Hall, demanding that the Congress government in the state hand over investigations against Amnesty International to the NIA.
Mr Yeddyurappa also demanded that Amnesty International's India chapter must be immediately banned.
Amnesty was charged with sedition earlier this month after Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad or ABVP - the student body affiliated to the BJP's ideological mentor RSS -- claimed anti-India and secessionist slogans were heard during an Amnesty-organised event on Kashmir.
Amnesty has denied any of its employees have been involved in slogan shouting and no arrest has been made in the case so far.
The BJP has supported the ABVP's stand, with Mr Yeddyurappa saying it was a fundamental right to bring to book people who indulge in anti-national activities.
The Congress government in the state is believed to have been questioned by the party high command for going ahead with the filing of the sedition case.
Earlier Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had assured Amnesty of a fair and transparent probe. On Sunday, his home minister G Parameshwara drew criticism for giving a virtual clean-chit to Amnesty even before a probe was over.
"I don't believe Amnesty International conducted any seditious activity," Mr Parameshwara had said.
Charges of sedition against Amnesty have also drawn criticism from the US, where the organisation has its headquarters. America has said that it believes Amnesty was simply following its right to free speech, guaranteed under the Indian law.