Kumara Chandrashekaranatha Swami, head of the Vishwa Vokkaligara Mahasamsthana Mutt, faces an FIR for his remarks calling for Muslim disenfranchisement. While the Karnataka Police has summoned him for questioning, the BJP and JD(S) have accused the Congress government of targeting the influential seer, warning of potential unrest.
BY PC Bureau
Vokkaliga seer Kumara Chandrashekaranatha Swami, booked for his controversial call to disenfranchise Muslims, has declared he will not appear before the police on December 2, leaving the Karnataka government in a political quandary.
The Congress-led government faces a tough choice: taking action risks giving the BJP ammunition to accuse it of being “anti-Hindu,” while inaction could invite criticism for being lenient on provocative statements.
Reacting to the summons, the chief of the Vishwa Vokkaligara Mahasamsthana Mutt stated he was prepared to go to jail, leaving the matter to divine will. “If the police come to my mutt, I will provide clarification,” he said, reiterating his stance against alleged Waqf Board actions targeting farmers.
Controversial Remarks and Political Fallout
The controversy began when the seer, addressing a protest in Bengaluru organized by the RSS-linked Bharatiya Kisan Sangh, claimed disenfranchising Muslims would end vote-bank politics and aid the nation’s progress. His comments sparked outrage, leading to an FIR under Section 299 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
While the seer later apologized, calling his remarks a “slip of the tongue,” the political fallout has been intense. BJP leader R. Ashoka warned of a Vokkaliga community uprising, while JD(S) leader H.D. Kumaraswamy accused the Congress of double standards in handling provocative statements.
The seer’s defiance of the summons is set to escalate tensions, placing the Congress government under scrutiny as it navigates the sensitive political and communal landscape.
Kumara Chandrashekaranatha Swami is the chief of the Vishwa Vokkaligara Mahasamsthana Mutt, a prominent religious institution representing the Vokkaliga community. Known for his involvement in socio-political issues affecting his community, the seer has often spoken out on matters related to agriculture, land rights, and Hindu interests.
