Alappuzha: Kerala police on Monday said they have launched a preliminary investigation into a purported video in which provocative slogans were being raised by a minor boy during a march by Popular Front of India (PFI) at coastal Alappuzha. Meanwhile, NCPCR sought FIR against those responsible for allegedly letting a child raise provocative slogans.
A short video of a boy sitting on the shoulder of a person during the "Save the Republic" rally held by PFI on May 21 here and raising allegedly provocative slogans went viral on social media. The boy is seen raising the slogan that "Hindus should keep rice for their last rites and Christians should keep incense for their last rites. If you live decently you can live in our land and if you don't live decently properly, we know Azadi (freedom). Live decently, decently, decently."
Taking serious note of the incident, police said they have launched a preliminary investigation into it. "...However, no complaint has been received so far and no case registered yet," police told. The provocative sloganeering by the child evoked criticism from various quarters. 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. Raoof said steps would be taken to avoid such shortcomings.
A few hours after cops launched the investigation, NCPCR wrote a letter to the Kerala Police chief, stating, "The flag of Popular Front of India (PFI) is clearly seen in the video. The complainant further alleged that even after this video is spread in society, Kerala Police is not taking any action against the parents of the kid and the PFI..."
It further alleged that the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) and the PFI are using kids like this to spread hated, enmity and communal violence in the community. Noting that the use of children in such anti-national activities appears to be a violation of Section 75 and Section 83 of the Juvenile Justice Act-2015, the commission said it deems it appropriate to take cognisance. The commission also sought from the Kerala Police an action taken report, along with a detailed fact-finding enquiry report, within seven days of receipt of this letter.
(With Agency Inputs)
