Home Minister terms Anant Kumar Hegde’s remarks ‘unfortunate’

Home Minister G. Parameshwara has termed “unfortunate” the alleged inflammatory remarks made by AnantKumar Hegde, Bharatiya Janata Party MP representing Uttara Kannada constituency, and said such statements were not in the interest of the society. “It is unfortunate that Members of Parliament make such statements, which are against the fundamentals of the Constitution,” he told presspersons here on Wednesday. Mr. Hegde should be well versed in the Constitution and the democratic principles, Mr. Parameshwara said. Case registered The Sirsi police have registered a criminal case against Mr. Hegde for allegedly saying, “As long as Islam is there in this world, terrorism will be there. Until and unless we root out Islam from this world, terrorism cannot be eradicated.” When asked if the State government would initiate legal action against Mr. Hegde, Mr. Parameshwara said, “The law will take its own course.” Probe intensifies N. Dinesh Nayak from Hubballi reports: The Uttar Kannada police have intensified the investigation into the case against Mr. Hegde. Superintendent of Police of Uttara Kannada district C. Vamsi Krishna told The Hindu that the police had begun collecting evidences. He, however, declined to give details. Meanwhile, Bhatkal town returned to normalcy on Wednesday. For the last couple of days, tension prevailed as the Muslim community condemned Mr. Hegde’s alleged remarks and demanded action against him. Mr. Krishna said no protests or processions were held in the town, even as some organisations have submitted memoranda expressing their concern over this issue. However, additional security arrangements were still in place to avoid untoward incidents, Mr. Krishna said. Members of the Popular Front of India submitted a memorandum, addressed to Governor Vajubhai R. Vala, to the Assistant Commissioner’s office in Bhatkal. The members sought immediate arrest of Mr. Hegde for trying to spread hatred against Islam. As a Member of Parliament, Mr. Hegde was duty bound to treat all communities equally. His remarks have, once again, exposed the BJP’s stand on Muslims, they said. The PFI has said that it would organise an intensified struggle in the district if the government failed to initiate strict action against Mr. Hegde within 15 days.   Source: The Hindu