Provocative speech during Ganesha procession

Mysuru: A First Information Report (FIR) has been registered against former MP Prathap Simha for allegedly delivering a provocative speech near a mosque on Link Road during the ‘Shobha Yaatre’ Ganesha idol immersion procession at T. Narasipur on Friday.

The ‘Shobha Yaatre’ was organised by Hindu organisations following a controversy over the procession route and remarks made by T. Narasipur Police Inspector Dhananjaya during a meeting with festival organisers.

The FIR (328/2026), naming Simha and others, was registered at T. Narasipur Police Station under the Nanjangud Sub-Division under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023. It is based on a complaint lodged by T. Narasipur Sub-Inspector (SI) N.M. Malleshaiah.

The sections invoked include those relating to obstructing a public servant from discharging official duties, rioting, fighting in a public place in a manner that disturbs public peace, promoting enmity, hatred or ill-will between different religious, racial, language, regional groups, castes or communities, circulating false information, rumours, making statements likely to cause public disorder and unlawful assembly.

Congress delegation meets SP Baladandi

Yesterday, Mysuru SP Mallikarjun Baladandi said, an FIR would be registered against Prathap Simha for allegedly delivering a provocative speech, despite not having permission to speak.

Speaking at his office in Nazarbad after receiving a complaint from a Congress delegation led by KPCC Spokesperson M. Lakshmana, the SP said, permission had been granted to speak only at the beginning or end of the procession.

Though the organisers had sought permission for a speech midway through the procession, the Police had not allowed it.

Accordingly, Prathap Simha spoke at the beginning of the procession. However, when the procession reached near the mosque, he allegedly delivered a speech despite not having permission, provoking the crowd.

“We will not let this go. The incident happened right before our eyes. Even after being told not to speak, he did. So, there is no question of leaving it unaddressed. The FIR will be filed,” he said.

The SP said, permission had been sought for 300 people, but the Police had anticipated nearly 5,000 participants and made security arrangements accordingly.

“That’s why we had ‘Plan A’ and ‘Plan B’ in place. The immersion was completed by 11 pm. All measures were taken to maintain law and order and similar steps will be taken in the future,” he said.

Earlier, Lakshmana alleged that BJP and its allied organisations had been working to create communal tension in T. Narasipur over the past 10 days. He alleged that Prathap Simha had also insulted Inspector Dhananjaya by addressing him in the singular.

Samvidhana Samrakshana Horata Samithi State President N. Bhaskar, Congress District President Beerihundi Basavanna and City President R. Murthy, Advocates Thimmaiah and Kantharaj, Rural Congress Spokesperson K. Mahesh and others were present.

I have not yet seen the FIR. I will respond to the case filed against me in T. Narasipur after going through its contents.

—Prathap Simha, former MP