A case was filed against noted playwright and actor Girish Karnad for wearing a placard with the words ‘Me Too Urban Naxal’ on it during an event in Bengaluru on 5 September. Karnad, a Jnanpith awardee, was at an event marking the first death anniversary of journalist-activist Gauri Lankesh.
The complaint against Karnad was filed by advocate Amruthesh NP who demanded the immediate arrest of the playwright.
“Urban Naxals are those who spread insurgency against the nation. Karnad has tried to promote/abet and propagate the violent and criminal activities of Naxalism,” the advocate reportedly said in his complaint.
The advocate asked how anyone could carry a banner of a banned organisation and support it.
Quoting Karnad, The Hindu said that the playwright defended his decision on the ground that everyone has a right to say what they want in a democracy.
“Let the law take its course,” he said.
No FIR has been registered. Bengaluru Police Commissioner T Suneel Kumar reportedly said that the police will examine the complaints as per law and take suitable action.
Vidhana Soudha (state secretariat) police said they have transferred the complaint to the Halasuru gate police station under whose jurisdiction the incident took place.
Girish Karnad along with many other activists took part in an event organised outside Lankesh’s residence on Wednesday where they protested against the house arrest of five activists from across the country for their alleged links with Maoists.
CT Ravi, general secretary of the BJP in Karnataka, posted a tweet with another picture of Karnad with the placard sarcastically asking if he should return the awards bestowed on him during the Congress regime.
“Now that Girish Karnad & Others belonging to the Ecosystem have declared themselves to be Naxals, shouldn’t they return all the Awards gifted to them by CONgress?” he wrote.
Now that Girish Karnad & Others belonging to the Ecosystem have declared themselves to be Naxals, shouldn’t they return all the Awards gifted to them by CONgress?#justasking pic.twitter.com/JeEAvRpMtV
— C.T.Ravi (@CTRavi_BJP) September 7, 2018