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‘Pakistan zindabad’ slogan: Amulya Leona remanded in 14-day custody after sedition charges

Amulya, in her address, appeared to be explaining to the audience the difference between chanting “Pakistan Zindabad and Hindustan zindabad”. The organisers of the event under the banner of “Save Constitution” had invited her to address the gathering.

Bengaluru Police personnel attempt to stop Amulya Leona as  she was speaking during a protest against CAA, NRC and NPR, in Bengaluru. (PTI)

Student activist Amulya Leona, who was booked under sedition for chanting “Pakistan Zindabad” during a rally in Bengaluru, has been remanded in 14-day judicial custody. Leona, a student of a south Bengaluru college, had chanted the slogan as part of her address during a protest rally against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA).

Amulya, in her address, appeared to be explaining to the audience the difference between chanting “Pakistan Zindabad and Hindustan zindabad”. The organisers of the event under the banner of “Save Constitution” had invited her to address the gathering.

What did Amulya Leona say on stage?

In a 2.03 minute video released by news agency ANI, AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi is seen exiting the stage while Amulya Leona begins her address with “Pakistan zindabad” (heard in the audio). As she chants the slogan two more times, Owaisi and a few others approach her and attempt to take the microphone away while she appears to explain to them “one second, one second…”

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Following this, Amulya chants “Hindustan zindabad” about four times and the audience chants along. A few men on the stage then begin chanting “Hindustan zindabad” loudly to which she says “I have been given (the microphone)…” As she continues speaking, a police officer and two others hold her arms and one of them snatches the microphone from her as she struggles to address the audience.

She then sets herself free and comes to the front of the stage and addresses the audience without the microphone. “The difference between Pakistan zindabad and Hindustan zindabad is (inaudible)….” She is then once again held and taken off stage.

Festive offer Bengaluru: AlMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi attempts to stop an unidentified woman who allegedly raised pro-Pakistan slogans during a protest against CAA, NRC and NPR in Bengaluru, Thursday, Feb.20, 2020. (PTI)

AIMIM chief Owaisi, who was present on the stage, rushed to snatch the microphone from her and was joined by others who tried to stop her. Later, the police stepped in and removed her from the stage.

Owaisi who later addressed the rally distanced his party from the remarks. “My dear friends and elders, we have no connection with the words uttered here. We have no connection with this — neither me nor my party have any connection to this. As long as we are alive we will shout the slogan of Bharat Zindabad. We have no connection with Pakistan and will never have.”

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JD(S) corporator Imran Pasha claimed Amulya was planted by some rival group to disrupt the event. The woman, he said, was not in the list of speakers and demanded that the police investigate the matter seriously, news agency PTI reported.

Read | ‘Remark taken out of context, respect plurality’: Waris Pathan on ’15 crore can outweigh 100′ statement

On its official Twitter handle, the state BJP unit said: “Anti-CAA activist Amulya Leona shouts Pakistan Zindabad in the presence of AIMIM Chief at Bengaluru. Truth is that protests against CAA are a joint venture between Pakistan & Anti-National Forces led by @INCIndia. Those who support Pakistan should go there forever.”

The state Congress unit, too, condemned the incident on social media and called for legal action. Former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said Amulya needs to be “taught a lesson.” “The act of supporting Pakistan through slogans shall be condemned. Police have to conduct investigation & teach Amulya a lesson,” he wrote on Twitter.

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Amulya’s father’s stance: ‘Unforgiveable mistake, caused pain to Indians’ 

Terming it as an “unforgiveable mistake”, Leona’s father called for action against her in accordance with law. The Chief Minister said that her father had sought punishment for her and said, she should not get bail adding, that he will not seek protection for her, PTI reported.

“It is an unforgivable mistake, she has caused pain to Indians. I’m deeply disturbed…action should be taken against her in accordance with law, she is around 19, we will have to find out why she said it and who is behind it,” he was quoted as saying by PTI.

“She is a bright girl…I have tried to tell her not to involve herself in such activities after I got to know she was involving in anti-CAA, anti-NRC protests and complete her education first,” he said expressing apprehensions over possible health issues of his daughter.

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Woman who raised pro-Pak slogans had links with Naxals in past: Yediyurappa

Meanwhile, Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa Thursday alleged that the woman charged with sedition for raising pro-Pakistan slogans during a rally in Bengaluru has had links with Naxals in the past.

“Importantly, the organisations that are behind people like Amulya and nurturing them, if we don’t take action against such organisations, such things won’t end. Prima facie it is clear that there is a conspiracy going on to disturb law and order with such incidents,” Yediyurappa was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.

“If organisations that are behind her are inquired into, things will come out. It is clear that she had links with Naxals in the past. In this backdrop, she should be punished and the action should be taken against organisations that are behind her,” he said.

First uploaded on: 21-02-2020 at 11:02 IST
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