Sedition charge slapped against woman in Karnataka for ‘pro-Pak slogans’

Bengaluru, February 21

A young woman who allegedly raised “pro- Pakistan slogans” at an anti-CAA rally here last evening has been booked for sedition and remanded to judicial custody, police said on Friday.

Amulya Leona said "Pakistan Zindabad" slogans thrice after the event’s organisers, under the banner of "Save the Constitution", invited her to address the gathering in Chikkamagaluru district on Thursday. A video that went viral showed that she also said “Hindustan Zindabad” repeatedly, then went on to say: “The difference…” before she was abruptly cut off and forcibly removed from the stage.

All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi who was part of the gathering was getting off the stage when the incident happened, but when the woman began her controversial speech, he came rushing back to the stage to show his disapproval.  The video also shows him trying to make a grab for the microphone.  

Leona was arrested and charged with sedition after she was brought down from the stage. She was brought before a magistrate's court, which remanded her to 14 days judicial custody.

In a related development, security was provided at the home of the woman, Amulya Leona, after it was attacked, allegedly by right-wing workers.

Officials said some people had targeted her home on Thursday evening and the window panes were damaged.

Leona’s father Wazi also called for action against her as per the law, saying she has made an "unforgiveable mistake." 

Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa claimed she had had links with Naxals.  He said to reporters in Mysuru that there was “a conspiracy” afoot to disturb law and order and that “organisations that are behind people like Amulya and nurturing them, if we don't take action against such organisations, such things won't end".

He even went on to say: "If organisations that are behind her are inquired into, things will come out. It is clear she had links with Naxals in the past. In this backdrop, she should be punished and action taken against organisations that are behind her".

Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai said all angles, including the woman's posts on Facebook, would be looked into, including if any organisation was behind her.

Amulya's father Wazi said action should be taken against her in accordance with law, so that she corrects herself.

“It is an unforgivable mistake, she has caused pain to Indians. I'm deeply disturbed....action should be taken against her in accordance with law. She is around 19, we will have to find out why she said it and who is behind it," he said.

 "She is a bright girl....I have tried to tell her not to involve herself in such activities after I got to know she was involving in anti-CAA, anti-NRC protests and complete her education first," he said.

 Meanwhile, a video of a group of people, allegedly right wing activists, last evening, purportedly questioning Wazi about his daughter's conduct and making him raise "Bharat Mata ki Jai" slogans has gone viral.

 On the other hand a purported Facebook post of Amulya on February 16 has surfaced in which she has said 'Zindabad' to several neighbouring countries and that doing so does not make her belong to them.

 "Hindustan Zindabad, Pakistan Zindabad, Bangladesh Zindabad, Sri Lanka Zindabad, Nepal Zindabad, Afghanistan Zindabad, China Zindabad, Nepal Zindabad... whichever country it may be,Zindabad to all countries,"said the post in Kannada.

Some people who are said to be Amulya's friends have claimed she was about to raise Zindabad slogans naming various countries as mentioned in the Facebook post before she was stopped by people around her on the stage. — Agencies

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