BJP MLA Harish Poonja has been booked on Sunday for making an alleged provocative speech in the communally sensitive Dakshina Kannada district.
Poonja, a two-time MLA from Belthangady constituency in the district, made the alleged provocative remark at the renovation ceremony of a temple in Thekkaru, located around 50 km from Mangaluru.
The MLA, in his address, had reportedly taken objection to the temple management visiting the nearby mosque to invite Muslim residents of the village to the event.
The MLA also purportedly said that other religious communities were trying to divide Hindus along caste lines.
Ibrahim S B, the complainant, accused Poonja of promoting enmity between religious communities and sought legal action against the BJP legislator.
Based on the complaint, a First Information Report was registered under sections 196 (promoting enmity) and 353(A) (public mischief) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
The coastal districts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi had faced fresh communal tensions following two murders in Mangaluru during the past week. Prohibitory orders are in force in Mangaluru till May 6 to prevent any untoward incidents.
