Case filed against Girish Karnad for carrying 'Urban Naxal' placard

An advocate practising in Bangalore High Court on Saturday filed a complaint against social activist, actor and writer Girish Karnad for carrying a placard inscribed with 'Me Too Urban Naxal' on September 5 at a programme to mark the first death anniversary of journalist Gauri Lankesh.

Advocate Amruthesh NP has urged the judicature to direct authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into the activist's alleged Naxal links in connection with the Bhima Koregaon violence which took place in January this year.

Expressing anger over Karnad's act, the lawyer wrote in his petition, "By posting such a title on his body, Mr. Karnad has tried to promote/abate and propagate the violent and criminal activities of Naxalism, sitting in the High Tech City and spreading it over to different parts of Karnataka state like in Chikkamangluru and Kodagu, Mangalore area."

In his petition, the lawyer has accused Karnad of initiating Naxalite movement in Karnataka.

"I suspect that Girish Karnad is the root cause where the Naxalite movement started in Karnataka and he is the person hand-in-glove with Naxalites on one side and on the other side claiming that bringing Naxalites to the mainstream of the society under this guise, having a connection and taking all benefits from the government. Therefore this is a very serious offence and should be punishable by law. This is nothing else but propagation and abatement to Naxalism by law. This is nothing else but resorting to violence for revolution."

The Bangalore High Court lawyer also urged the judicature to carry out an investigation to find out "who are the persons who are acting as accomplices/conduits/supporters in such crime with Mr. Girish Karnad, such as Prakash Rai, KS Bhagavan, Swami Agnivesh, Umar Khaleed, Jignesh Mewani, Kanhaiyya Kumar who are also accused persons in the Bhima Koregaon Riots case."

The Bhima Koregaon violence erupted while celebrating the 200th anniversary of the Bhima-Koregaon battle in January this year. A youth died and several others, including 10 security personnel, were injured in the violence.

-ANI