Various organizations in Karnataka have rallied in support of Muslim women following controversial comments made by RSS leader Kalladka Prabhakar Bhatt. Members of these groups staged a protest at Freedom Park, demanding the immediate arrest of Bhatt for his disparaging remarks targeting the fairer sex within the Muslim community.
“Our foremost objective is clear. We demand the arrest of RSS leader Prabhakar Bhatt. The comments he made, particularly targeting women of a marginalized community, are shameful and derogatory. The absence of his arrest is not just a failure but a significant lapse on the part of the government,” expressed a protester at the demonstration.
However, the Karnataka High Court intervened on Friday, granting relief to Bhatt by directing the state not to take coercive action against him for his speech on December 24 in Srirangapatna, Mandya District. The court’s decision temporarily stalls Bhatt’s arrest.
During the Freedom Park protest, Rakshita Singh, an advocate, emphasized the need for punitive measures to deter individuals from making such remarks. She stated, “Punishments should be meted out to people to make them think before making such remarks.”
Singh added that beyond targeting a specific gender or community, Bhatt’s comments amounted to the misuse of freedom of speech, creating a hostile environment and jeopardizing the safety of a community within their own country.
Sayeda Begum, the state secretary of Women India, announced that protests would persist statewide until the government and law enforcement agencies take legal action against Bhatt. “His remark has emotionally disturbed our whole community. We elected this government to stand up for our rights, but they have miserably failed,” she stated.
Bhatt faces charges under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including Sections 354 (Assault on a woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 294 (uttering obscene words at a public place), and 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion). The FIR against the RSS leader was filed following a complaint by Najma Nazeer, a leading JD(S) leader and social activist.
As the controversy unfolds, the incident highlights the broader societal implications and the ongoing struggle for rights and dignity within marginalised communities.
