6 hrs ago
MG Hegde’s Book Tests Communal Claims Against Karnataka Records
MG Hegde wrote a book about claims involving relationships, religious conversion and alleged terrorism in madrasas.
He asked police stations and government offices for records using the Right to Information Act.
He says he gathered information from 14 districts in Karnataka and spent more than 14 months on the research.
According to him, the records showed no complaints about “love jihad” or alleged madrasa terrorism in the districts he studied.
He says the records did show 27 conversion cases over 10 years.
Hegde says these cases mostly involved converts or their relatives making complaints.
His book asks whether some public claims were backed by official records.
He says he may take the matter to the High Court.
Writer and KPCC spokesperson MG Hegde says his new book compares claims about “love jihad,” conversion and alleged madrasa terrorism with official records.
He says the research covered 14 Karnataka districts, around 350 sensitive police stations and government offices, and took more than 14 months.
According to Hegde, records showed no complaints or cases concerning “love jihad” or alleged madrasa terrorism in the districts covered over the 10-year period examined.
He says records showed 27 religious-conversion cases across the 14 districts over 10 years, mostly involving complaints by converts or their relatives.
Hegde argues the findings question whether public allegations were supported by complaints or official representations, and says he is considering taking the issue to the High Court.
- Who
- MG Hegde, a writer and KPCC spokesperson, conducted the research and compiled it in a book.
- What
- Hegde published findings from an RTI-based review of official records about “love jihad,” religious conversion and alleged madrasa terrorism.
- Where
- Mangaluru; the research covered 14 districts in Karnataka.
- When
- The book was released on Tuesday; the records examined covered a 10-year period, and the research took more than 14 months.
- Why
- Hegde said he wanted to find what official evidence supported repeated public allegations and to examine their effect on relations between communities.
Hegde’s assessment of records
Public allegations described in the article
Claims about “love jihad” and madrasa terrorism
Hegde’s assessment of records
Hegde says the official records he obtained showed no complaints or cases on these issues in the districts covered during the 10-year period examined.
Public allegations described in the article
The article says these issues have featured in political speeches and public debate, but does not provide responses from the people who made the allegations.
Religious conversion
Hegde’s assessment of records
Hegde says the records showed 27 cases over 10 years and argues they do not justify viewing the Christian community as a whole with suspicion.
Public allegations described in the article
The article describes conversion as a subject of public allegations and debate but does not include a response from those making those claims.
Key facts
- Book
- “Love Jihad Mattu Mataantara – Prachara Mattu Vastava” (Love Jihad and Religious Conversion – Propaganda and Reality)
- Author
- MG Hegde, KPCC spokesperson and writer
- Research method
- Requests for records under the Right to Information Act
- Geographic scope
- 14 districts in Karnataka
- Police stations covered
- Around 350 sensitive police stations
- Research duration
- More than 14 months
- Conversion cases reported by Hegde
- 27 cases across 14 districts over 10 years
- Other allegations
- Hegde said records showed no complaints or cases relating to “love jihad” or alleged madrasa terrorism in the districts covered during the period examined.
Quotes
MG Hegde
KPCC spokesperson, writer and author of the book
“From every police station I got the reply ‘No.’ For ten years not even one case was filed in these districts. While speeches were made by BJP and Sangh leaders, none of them filed any complaint nor gave any representation on this.”
deccanchronicle.com
“It is for this reason that I decided to check the official records. I need not make any allegations against BJP or Sangh Parivar leaders. The data says everything.”
deccanchronicle.com
Sources
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