Karnataka elections: SDPI candidate from Mangaluru charged with sedition

Bengaluru (IANS) | The Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) candidate for the Mangaluru constituency, Riyaz Farangipet, who has nominated to contest from the Ullal constituency in Mangaluru, has been charged with sedition. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is closely watching his movements. SDPI national secretary Riyaz has been accused of conspiring to attack Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 12, 2022 in Phulwarisharif area of Bihar. The alleged links of Riyaz with the accused persons have come to the fore in the investigation. NIA has registered an FIR against him. It is alleged that he participated in the meetings with the accused in planning.

In 2022, the NIA registered an FIR against him on charges of sedition.

Apart from this, several cases are also registered against him in Belthangady, Mangaluru South, Konaje, Mangaluru North, East police stations in Dakshina Kannada district. He is also accused of creating enmity between groups, obstructing the duty of policemen.

Riyaz Farangipet on Monday took out a massive rally to file nomination for the Mangaluru constituency. Sources said the SDPI had campaigned aggressively against Congress candidate Khader in the wake of the hijab controversy and the call for boycott of Muslim traders.

Khadar has won from this constituency thrice since 2008 by defeating BJP candidates. In 2018, Khadar had defeated BJP’s Santosh Kumar Rai Boliaru by over 19,000 votes. The BJP had won this seat for three consecutive terms between 1994 and 2004.

Khader, touted as a progressive leader, is facing a tough fight from the SDPI in the Muslim-dominated constituency this time. It was the only constituency to be won by the Congress in the 2018 elections. The BJP had won all the seats in the district.

–IANS