HUBBALLI: Hubballi police booked a Muslim cleric after a video of him comparing an area of the city with Pakistan went viral on social media. Meanwhile, a BJP Yuva Morcha leader offered Rs 10 lakh bounty for beheading the cleric. No case has been filed against him so far.
In the video while addressing the Eid-e-Milad congregation on Saturday, Abdul Hamid Imamsa Khairati, cleric of Ganeshpeth mosque, is seen comparing the mosque with Pakistan, saying, “Ganeshpeth is looking like Pakistan. Those who cannot go to Pakistan can see it in Ganeshpeth only."
The video attracted criticism as the speech happened in the presence of Assistant Commissioner of Police (North) Dawood Khan, who was a guest at the Eid celebration. Condemning the incident, protests were held seeking action against both the cleric and police officer. Police registered a case against the cleric under Section 153A of IPC, which reads as promoting enmity between different groups on the grounds of religion, race, place of birth, language.
However, BJP members demanded a sedition case.
Soon, BJP Yuva Morcha leader Basavaraj Yankanchi announced Rs 10 lakh bounty for beheading the cleric, saying those who air pro-Pakistan statements should not be allowed to live in India.
Members of Hindu outfits staged protest outside Suburban police station and blocked the road, staging dharna for over half an hour. Police commissioner M N Nagaraj later pacified the agitating leaders, who demanded the arrest of the cleric by Thursday.