During the speech at the Deepotsava programme, RSS leader Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat asked Hindu women to give birth to more children, while pointing out that Muslim women were delivering more than two children
| Photo Credit: File photo
Dakshina Kannada police has registered a case against Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leader Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat on charges of making an inflammatory speech during a Deepotsava programme held at Uppalige in Puttur taluk on October 20.
In the speech, which was widely viewed on the ‘Kahale News’ channel on YouTube, Mr. Bhat is seen asking Hindu women to give birth to more children, while saying that Muslim women were delivering more than two children.
Based on the compliant by one Eshwari Padmunja, who stated that his speech was creating hate between religions, the Puttur Rural police on October 25 registered a case against Mr. Bhat and the event organisers under Sections 79, 196, 299, 302, and 3(5) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Special Action Force personnel had also flagged this video on the same day and asked the district police to take action.
Meanwhile, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Priyank Kharge launched an attack on Mr. Bhat for his assertive posture on the RSS’s proposed route march on November 2 at Chittapur, which is Mr. Kharge’s assembly constituency.
Stating that the RSS can do ‘path sanchalan’ if the court permits, Mr. Kharge said that no one is above the law or the Constitution. “Who is he? Is he above the law or the Constitution? We have to adhere to the law. Can the government keep quiet otherwise? Action as per the law will be taken if he speaks in public like the way things are said in shakhas,” the Minister added.
“It is better to follow the law instead of making inflammatory statements. Will the government keep quiet if there are inflammatory statements?” the Mr. Kharge further said in response to the RSS leader’s assertive statement on his party’s route march at Chittapur.
Claiming that he has not influenced anyone on this issue, he said that 11 organisations have sought permission to take out a procession at Chittapur, and that officials will hold a meeting with regard to this. “The officials will submit a report to the court after the meeting and the court will decide. It is difficult to permit everyone,” he said.
Published – October 26, 2025 06:29 pm IST
