Preacher held for insulting ‘Bharat Mata’

Yalamanchili Vijay Kumar, director of an organisation called Christ Gospel Team, allegedly made a derogatory speech about “Bharat Mata”.

A religious preacher has been arrested for allegedly insulting “Bharat Mata” by posting a “hate speech” on social media, police said on Monday.

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Yalamanchili Vijay Kumar, director of an organisation called Christ Gospel Team, allegedly made a derogatory speech about “Bharat Mata”--the national personification of India as a mother goddess.

The accused, a native of East Godavari district in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, had given the hate speech in August this year and posted it on social media, DCP (South Zone) said in a statement.

The complaint was filed against Vijay Kumar, who also goes by alises Vijay Kumar and Br. Vijay, by one T. Kunal Rao, a businessman and a resident of Hussainialam in Hyderabad.

According to police, the speech of Vijay Kumar was prejudicial to maintenance of harmony which could disturb the public tranquillity.

“Vijay Kumar’s hateful intention to outraging feelings of the citizens of India and his statement is prejudicial to national integration,” according to the release.

Vijay Kumar was booked under relevant sections of the IPC for hurting communal harmony and religious feelings.