It is a false case aimed at intimidating me, says Dattatraya Patil Revoor

The former MLA Dattatraya Patil Revoor has asserted that a false FIR registered against him will not deter him from raising issues in public interest, even as he defended remarks made during a BJP protest against the State government’s decision to withdraw cases linked to the 2022 violence in Aland town of Kalaburagi district.

Addressing a press conference in Kalaburagi on Monday, Mr. Revoor maintained that he has neither insulted any religion nor targeted any community in his speech. He said that the case against him is politically motivated and intended to intimidate him.

He said that he will continue to speak out against what he described as the State government’s failure to act against those accused of attacking officials and police personnel during the violence connected with worship at the Raghav Chaitanya Shivalinga at Ladle Mashak Dargah.

Referring to his family’s four decades of involvement in politics in Kalaburagi, he said that no communal disturbances have occurred during periods when they were in public office.

He further said that some individuals with sympathies towards Pakistan are involved in acts of hooliganism. He added that the BJP will continue to pursue the issue through legal means.

Stating that has been deterioration in law and order in Kalaburagi, Mr. Revoor said that the BJP will submit a representation to Union Home Minister Amit Shah and launch a campaign to collect one lakh signatures against what the party describes as growing hooliganism in the district.

Mr. Revoor also criticised Home Minister Priyank Kharge saying that no stringent action has been taken against those who have taken the law into their own hands.

He said that hundreds of people participated in a bike rally and gathered outside the police station demanding that a case be registered against him. He urged Mr. Kharge to initiate legal action against those disturbing law and order and responsible for filing what he described as a false case against him.

BJP MLA Basavaraj Mattimod demanded the withdrawal of the case registered against Mr. Revoor and warned of an intensified agitation if the case is not withdrawn within a week.

BJP district president Ashok Bagali said Mr. Revoor merely referred to a past incident during a protest led by BJP State president B.Y. Vijayendra and did not insult anyone. He also sought action against 18 people for making derogatory statements against Mr. Revoor on social media platforms and disturbing communal harmony.