Bengaluru: A day after Amnesty International India was booked on the charge of sedition, ABVP activists today staged a huge protest here, demanding arrest of those who allegedly raised slogans against India and the Army at an event on Kashmir held by it.
In a statement today responding to the ABVP allegations mentioned in its complaint, Amnesty International India said they were “without substance”.
No Amnesty International India employee shouted any slogans at any point, it said, replying to the charge that “slogans were raised that Indian Kashmir should be part of Pakistan.”
Karnataka government said police were examining video and CCTV clippings to identify the culprits.
As ABVP activists held a protest in front of Raj Bhavan and nearby. Police struggled to control the agitated students and tried to baton chase them away.
The students demanded action against Amnesty International and speedy arrest of those who had allegedly raised “pro-freedom” and anti-Army slogans at the event on Saturday.
“The police have been slow in bringing to book the pro-freedom Kashmiris who raised slogans. We demand that the police expedite the investigation and arrest the culprits as soon as possible,” BJP MP Pratap Simha said.
Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara said police were examining video and CCTV clippings to identify the “pro-freedom” Kashmiris who raised “independence” slogans.
“Police have filed an FIR against Amnesty International India. Police are examining the video and CCTV clippings to identify the pro-freedom Kashmiris who raised independence slogans at the event,” he told reporters.
Amnesty International had organised the event as part of a campaign to seek justice for “victims of human rights violations” in Jammu and Kashmir, which took an ugly turn with heated exchanges and alleged raising of anti-India and anti-Army slogans.
ABVP activists had submitted a CD containing video recording of the event after filing a complaint with police, who yesterday registered an FIR against Amnesty International.
IPC sections– 142 (being member of an unlawful assembly), 143 (whoever is a member of an unlawful assembly), 147 (rioting), 124A (sedition), 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc. and doing acts prejudicial to the maintenance of harmony) have been invoked against Amnesty.
Asked whether Amnesty International India Executive Director Aakar Patel is likely to be arrested, Parameshwara said, “Not to my knowledge. Not at the moment.”
PTI
