Moily flays party’s govt in K’tka over sedition charge

New Delhi, Aug 17 (PTI) Former Union Law MinisterVeerappa Moily today criticised his Congress party’sgovernment in Karnataka over filing of sedition charge againstAmnesty International, saying it is "illegal and improper" andintended "only to silence the protest or resistance". Moily, a senior leader from Karnataka, said he hasalready conveyed his unhappiness to the state’s Home Ministerand would be "questioning" Chief Minister Siddaramaiah too onthe issue. "…I talked to the Home minister of Karnataka. I toldhim, how it can happen? You know the sedition charge should befiled for conspiring and waging war against the nation and infact it cannot be just invoked against mere sloganeering. "And here in this case, filing the case against AmnestyInternational, particularly the case of sedition, I think itis illegal and improper and I think this is only to silencethe protest or resistance. It amounts to violating the freedomof speech," he said in Karan Thapar’s ‘To the Point’ programmeon India Today. Moily said the state Home minister had "explained" to himthat it is not intended like that and they are yet toinvestigate it. "Of course police have no option but to register a FIRagainst those who have been named in the complaint. But thatdoesn’t mean, just because ABVP has filed a complaint on thesecharges, I don’t think police is entitled to repeat it intheir FIR without a proper investigation, particularly acharge like sedition, which is a very serious offence," hesaid. To a query, Moily said, "I will be questioning (the ChiefMinister)" and request him to make an inquiry in this matterand that it should not happen again. He said the sedition charges are very easily and verycasually being slapped in the country. "I think it is the primary duty of the union Homeministry to send the circular with regard to the seditioncharges. How it should be filed and there should be properguidelines. Otherwise anybody with a political motive or toput down the any dissent opinion in the democracy…It isagainst to the contrary to the highest value of democracy," headded. PTI AKKAKK