Bengaluru:
A day after a sedition case was filed against it, Amnesty International's India chapter said its members did not shout anti-India slogans, while the BJP said it wants Amnesty to be investigated by the Centre. The Congress, which is ruling Karnataka, said videos of the event are being studied and "things are not very clear" at this point.
On Saturday, a debate organised by Amnesty had turned chaotic after some people from Kashmir -- most of them students - had an argument that turned ugly with Kashmiri Pandit leader and former journalist RK Mattoo, who had praised the Army. At that point, anti-India slogans were allegedly raised.
A case was filed by the police on Monday, after activists of the ABVP -- a students' body affiliated to the BJP's ideological mentor, the RSS -- filed a complaint and submitted a video recording of the event. The ABVP held a protest march too, demanding arrest of those who had raised anti-India slogans. But on the way to the Raj Bhavan, they clashed with the police, who later arrested around 30 activists.
ABVP workers protest against Amnesty event in Bengaluru
Rebutting the charges made in the FIR or First Information Report filed against it in Bengaluru, Amnesty India said the allegations were "without substance" and none of its employees had shouted any slogans during the event. It also questioned why "organising an event to defend constitutional values is now being branded 'anti-India' and criminalised."
The BJP supported the protest by ABVP. State party president BS Yeddyurappa said, "Patriotic people can't tolerate anti-national slogans. Karnataka doesn't have any space for people indulging in anti-national activities. I have written to the Union Home Minister to probe the activists and Amnesty International."
Karnataka Home Minister, Congress's G Parameshwara, said the "intention and background" of those involved would be investigated. "They are investigating exactly what happened. They are looking at video clippings and CCTV. At this stage it is not very clear," he added.
Earlier, non-profits like Greenpeace have alleged crackdown by the Central government on dissent and freedom of speech. Similar allegations were made by protesting students across the country as well. This time, the charges have been raised in Congress-governed Karnataka.