Bengaluru: BJP workers protest against Amnesty India, demand NIA probe

BJP workers on Wednesday held a protest against Amnesty International India in Bengaluru over the 13 August event on the Kashmir unrest.The workers also demanded that the case against Amnesty be handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA).A Kashmiri Pandit forum on Tuesday had also sought a probe by a central agency into the activities of Amnesty International which, it alleged, has been selective in its approach and was out to tarnish India's image and of its security forces. It had also sought a ban on the outfit in the state.Amnesty had been slapped with sedition charges over the 13 August event it held as part of a campaign to seek justice for "victims of human rights violations" in Jammu and Kashmir, which took an ugly turn with heated exchange and alleged raising of pro-Kashmir 'Independence' and anti-Army slogans.[caption id="attachment_2844052" align="alignleft" width="380"]

Representational image. AFP[/caption]On the other hand, the United States has backed Amnesty International. US State Department Deputy Spokesperson Mark Toner had said that the US supported the right to freedom of expression for anyone, including Amnesty."With Amnesty International, I'm sorry. Well, we obviously, as we do around the world, support the right to freedom of expression and assembly, including through civil society," Toner told reporters on Monday.He was asked about the sedition charge against the group in India.Toner had said the State Department was aware of the reports that police in Bengaluru have "initiated preliminary investigation into allegations of sedition against Amnesty International.""I direct you to the police for more details into this investigation, but certainly we, as I said, respect the right for Amnesty and others to express themselves freely."The remarks came a day after Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara had said he had "not given any clean chit" to the rights group. He had earlier said the group was not involved in anti-national activities, though some anti-India slogans were raised by some participants at the event at United Theological College in the city on 13 August.With inputs from agencies