Bengaluru, September 7: High Court advocate Amrutesh lodged a complaint against senior writer Girish Karnad at Vidhana Soudha police station in Bengaluru on Friday.

The advocate has lodged the complaint against Karnad for holding a placard saying “I am too urban naxal” at a programme organized in memory of journalist Gauri Lankesh at Bengaluru on September 5.

As the naxal was a banned outfit, the police should arrest Girish Karnad who has been declaring that he is a naxal. Karnad has also participated in Kabir Kala Much convention held at Maharashtra and the Kala Much was also a banned organization. So, the police should immediately arrest Girish Karnad, the advocate demanded in his complaint.

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Bengaluru: Kumara Chandrashekharanath Swamiji, head of the Vishva Okkaliga Mahasansthana Mutt, has expressed regret over his controversial statement suggesting that "Muslims should be denied voting rights."

In a press release, Swamiji clarified, "Muslims are also citizens of this country. Like everyone else, they too have voting rights. If my statement yesterday has caused discomfort to our Muslim brothers, I sincerely apologise for it."

He further added, "Okkaligas are inherently tolerant of all religions. We have always treated people of every faith equally. Our Mutt maintains cordial relations with Muslims, and they frequently visit us. Similarly, we attend their weddings and other joyous occasions. Hence, there is no intolerance towards this community." Swamiji appealed to the public to disregard the controversy surrounding his remark.

The controversial statement was made during a farmers' rally, ‘Raita Gharjana,’ organised by the Bharatiya Kisan Sangh, Karnataka Pradesh, at Freedom Park, Bengaluru, on Tuesday. Addressing the gathering, Swamiji had said, "A law should be enacted to deny voting rights to the Muslim community, and the Wakf Board should be abolished."

The remark drew widespread criticism from political leaders and the public alike. Following the backlash, Swamiji issued his apology, stating, "Muslims are also citizens of this country. Like everyone else, they too have voting rights. If my statement yesterday has caused discomfort to our Muslim brothers, I sincerely apologise for it."