Kerala Police Files Case After Viral Video of Child Shouting Communal Slogans at PFI Rally
The Wire Staff
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New Delhi: The Kerala Police on Monday registered a case over allegedly provocative slogans being raised by a minor boy during a march by the Popular Front of India (PFI) in coastal Alappuzha, a purported video of which went viral. The case is against PFI Alappuzha district president Nawas Vandanam and district secretary Mujeeb, according to NDTV.
According to India Today, the slogans chanted were against Hindus and Christians.
Police said the case has been registered under section 153 A of the Indian Penal Code which deals with the offence of promoting enmity between different religious groups. "The case has been registered against the organisers of the event. Section 153 A has been charged. Case is also against the group of people with whom the minor boy attended the rally," a police officer told PTI.
A short video of a boy sitting on the shoulder of a person during the "Save the Republic" rally held by the PFI in Alappuzha on May 21 and raising allegedly provocative slogans has gone viral on social media.
The Kerala high court too expressed concerns about children being used in political and religious rallies. "I just want to know if there is any law which prohibits this. These children will grow up with hatred inside them," Justice Gopinath P. said, according to LiveLaw. The judge also asked if it was legal for children to take part in such rallies.
Meanwhile, the PFI, in an internal note, which was made available to the media, said such slogans were against the policy of the outfit and would look into the matter.
"We have given approved slogans which were to be raised in the public rally at Alappuzha. Thousands of party workers and others joined the rally protesting against the RSS. The visual of a boy raising slogans came to our notice now. Those slogans were not approved or given by the organisers of the rally. It's not the policy of the organisation to provoke or raise provocative slogans," PFI state secretary C.A. Raoof said in the note.
National Commission for Protection of Child Rights chief Priyank Kanoongo too criticised the events, saying, "Involving children in such activities is against the Juvenile Justice Act. We're writing to the concerned district to file an FIR. Strict action should be taken. This is a cognisable offence."
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