Mangaluru: Congress leader files complaint against Udupi MP for 'communal' statement

Congress leader and former MLC Ivan D'Souza on Thursday filed a police complaint against Udupi-Chikmagalur MP Shobha Karandlaje accusing her of making a "false and baseless statement" that leaders of the Christian community are advising believers not to take the COVID-19 vaccines.

Mangaluru (Karnataka):Congress leader and former MLC Ivan D'Souza on Thursday filed a police complaint against Udupi-Chikmagalur MP Shobha Karandlaje accusing her of making a "false and baseless statement" that leaders of the Christian community are advising believers not to take the COVID-19 jabs.

D'Souza said Karandlaje's comment was a black spot on the country's democratic setup as she accused the Christian community of being "anti-national".

"The MP is trying to divide the society on the basis of religion and caste in order to safeguard her political interests and thus, she should be arrested immediately," he said.

The complaint was filed with the city police commissioner and the inspector at the Mangaluru South police station.

At a press conference in Chikkamagaluru on Wednesday, Karandlaje had allegedly said churches in the Malnad region have been advising followers not to get inoculated against COVID-19. According to media reports, she said Catholics were not at fault, but certain Christian denominations such as the Pentecost were misleading their followers and action needed to be taken against them.