PC George arrested for hate speech

The former legislator was picked from his house in Kottayam early Sunday

The State capital witnessed high drama as the police braved several tense moments to arrest former legislator P.C. George for his alleged hate speech against the Muslim community.

Having taken Mr. George into custody early morning from his residence at Erattupetta in Kottayam, a police convoy led by the Fort Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) S. Shaji rushed him to the Armed Reserve (AR) camp at Nandavanam in the capital city amid tight security by 10:10 a.m. The Kerala Janapaksham (Secular) leader arrived in his private vehicle after refusing to travel in a police jeep. He was accompanied by his son Shone George.

Mr. George was booked under the direction of State Police Chief Anil Kant for having made incendiary statements against the Muslim community during his speech at the Ananthapuri Hindu Maha Sammelan on April 29. The police had received nearly 20 complaints against the former Government Chief Whip including one from Muslim Youth League.

The Fort police have registered a case under Section 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, etc. and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony) and 295A (deliberate and malicious act intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). He will be produced before the magistrate later in the day.

The police action was met with stiff objection by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) which accused the government of adopting double standards of justice.

Union Minister of State for External Affairs V. Muraleedharan, who was refused entry to the AR camp to meet Mr. George, charged the government with arresting citizens for expressing dissent, even while letting murderers go scot-free. He also accused the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI (M)] of having supported those who have indulged in “graver crimes” including sedition.

He, however, sidestepped questions on the propriety of the controversial statements that had been made by Mr. George at the Ananthapuri Hindu Maha Sammelan.