The Kerala police on Wednesday filed a case against BJP state president PS Sreedharan Pillai for his distasteful comments on the Muslim community. On Sunday, at a rally in Attingal constituency, Sreedharan Pillai remarked, with a giggle, that Muslims can be identified by ‘removing their clothes’, referring to circumcision.
The BJP leader came under fire for his remarks, and CPI (M) leader V Sivankutty filed a complaint with the Kerala Election Commission. In his letter, Sivankutty, who is the coordinator of CPI(M) candidate A Sampath’s campaign in Attingal, said that Sreedharan Pillai’s remark targets a religious community and was a blatant violation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC). He also stated that Sreedharan Pillai’s comment was a criminal act.
Following this, the Attingal police filed a case against Sreedharan Pillai, the Circle Inspector of the station told TNM. He has been booked under Section 153 (Wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot), 153A (Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, etc) and 153B (Imputations, assertions prejudicial to national integration) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
On Wednesday, based on Sivankutty’s petition, the Kerala High Court also sought a response from the government, DGP and Kerala Police Chief Loknath Behara as well as Sreedharan Pillai himself in the matter.
Sreedharan Pillai was campaigning for BJP’s Attingal candidate Sobha Surendran in the constituency on Sunday when he started talking about the Indian Air Force’s Balakot Air Strike. “Our Rahul Gandhi, Yechury, and Pinarayi are saying, our soldiers have to go there and see the count of the dead...their caste, religion etc,” he said.
Referring to questions being raised about the number of people killed in the Balakot strike, he said. “If it is Islam, there are some signs, no? If you remove their clothes you will be able to know. Our soldiers have to do all that and return is what they are saying.”
His remarks drew flak from several leaders from political parties such as LDF and Congress. Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala said Sreedharan Pillai must offer a public apology, failing which the Returning Officer must take action against him.
UDF’s ally, IUML leader and Malappuram MP PK Kunhalikutty said that the BJP was attempting to polarise and build their vote bank, "but that it would only result in loss of votes for the party in the state".
AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi, too, hit back at the BJP, calling them the ‘experts in human anatomy’. He added, “If you want to identify a Muslim, ask. No need to lift clothing, what is this Sanghi obsession with Muslim men and what’s under their clothing?”
The BJP leader, however, denied making these comments, He said that he was quoted out of context and that the video was heavily edited. He also said he will take legal action.