Karnataka Police summons Kannada actor Upendra over alleged casteist remarks

Karnataka Police on Monday summoned Kannada actor Upendra, under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, after lodging two FIRs over his alleged remarks against Dalits during a recent Facebook Live session. 

Following protests in parts of Ramanagara district, the actor, who is also the leader of the Uttama Prajakeeya Party, apologised for his statement. 

Assistant director of the social welfare department Madhusudhan K N filed a complaint with the Chennammana Kere Achukattu police which booked Upendra.

Addressing the controversy, the actor took to social media and said, "The one who is speaking against me today was not even born then. Fifty years ago, I have seen cruel poverty, people dying by suicide by setting themselves on fire, hunger, humiliation and oppression. Would one who has grown up experiencing all this speak ill against a particular section? Am I crazy? What will I gain from it? Don’t you have the courage to offer forgiveness? Why so much hate?"

ಇಂದು ನನ್ನ ವಿರುಧ್ದ ಮಾತನಾಡುತ್ತಿರುವ ಹಲವರು ಅಂದು ಹುಟ್ಟೇ ಇರಲಿಲ್ಲ.
50 ವರ್ಷಗಳ ಹಿಂದೆ ನನ್ನ ಬಾಲ್ಯ ನಾನು ಎಂತಹ ಪರಿಸರದಲ್ಲಿ ಬೆಳೆದೆ.. ಆ ಬಾಲ್ಯದಲ್ಲಿ ನಾನು ಕಂಡ ಆ ಕ್ರೂರ ಬಡತನ, ನನ್ನ ಕಣ್ಣ ಮುಂದೆಯೇ ಬೆಂಕಿ ಹಚ್ಚಿಕೊಂಡು ಆದ ಆತ್ಮಹತ್ಯೆಗಳು, ಹಸಿವು, ಅಪಮಾನ, ತುಳಿತ …. ಇದನ್ನು ಅನುಭವಿಸಿ ಬೆಳೆದ ನಾನು ಇಂದು ಒಂದು ವರ್ಗದ ಜನರ…

— Upendra (@nimmaupendra) August 13, 2023

Another FIR was registered against the Uttama Prajakeeya Party leader on Sunday following a complaint by Bhyrappa Harish Kumar, state president of the Karnataka Ranadhira Pade, under several sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and under sections of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.