KOTTAYAM
The Erattupetta police have registered a case against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader P.C. George for an alleged hate speech.
The action follows a complaint filed by the Erattupetta municipal committee of the Muslim Youth League, accusing Mr. George of making communally charged remarks about Muslims during a panel discussion on a news channel.
The charges against him include promoting enmity between different groups and inciting provocation with the intent to cause a riot.
BJP State president K. Surendran has condemned the police action, accusing the government of acting under pressure from communal forces. He also pledged to contest the case legally and politically.
“Despite Mr. George apologising on Facebook for his slip of the tongue during the discussion, he is being unfairly targeted. This witch hunt cannot be accepted,” said Mr. Surendran.
The development marks the widening discord between Mr. George and the Muslim electorate in the State. Over the years, the former legislator has fashioned a narrative against political Islam, often employing inflammatory language that rivals far-right outfits.
Mr. George has been embroiled in similar controversies in the past. In April 2022, he was booked for hate speech following remarks made during the Ananthapuri Hindu Maha Sammelanam. Later that year, the Palarivattom police registered another case against him for a communally sensitive speech delivered at Vennala, Kochi.
Published – January 11, 2025 07:03 pm IST
