Karnataka Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA and minister Munirathna has been booked by the police for his alleged hate speech against Christians. A First Information Report (FIR) was registered by the Rajarajeshwari Nagar police under Section 125 (promoting enmity between classes in connection with election) of the Representational of People Act and Sections 117 (abetting commission of the offence by the public or by more than ten persons) and 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The complaint on the horticulture minister, who defected to the BJP from the Congress after the 2018 Assembly elections, was filed by Manoj Kumar, who is under election duty with the Flying Squad Team. In his complaint, Kumar said, Munirathna, who is the legislator from the Rajarajeshwari Nagar Assembly constituency, delivered a hate speech asking people to hit and send back Christians. His statement has insulted the honour of Christians and has incited communal violence.
