Bajrang Dal Leaders Arrested For TV9 Attack, Lodge Police Co

Several activists of the Bajrang Dal, a Sangh Parivar outfit, were arrested today when they staged a dharna in front of the TV9 office at Banjara Hills against a campaign by the channel against sound pollution on Diwali, saying it was hurting the sentiments of the Hindus.

As part of their protest, the activists brought several crackers and burst them on the road in front of the channel office. They also tried to barge into the premises but were prevented by the police and taken into custody.

The Bajrang Dal leaders then lodged a complaint themselves with the Banjara Hills police about the "inflammatory and derogatory" message being telecast on TV9 titled "Deepavali roju crackers kalchevaallu gaadidhalu" (those bursting crackers on Deepavali are donkeys).

In the complaint, VHP - Bajrang Dal leaders M Kiran Kumar and S Mallesh Yadav said that the intention of the program was to humiliate the Hindus by calling all those bursting crackers on Diwali, donkeys.

"This a direct attack on the Hindus, our sentiments and our festivals. It is loathsome to see such messages. There were a number of incidents earlier too in which TV9 deliberately injured the sentiments of the Hindus through its programs and debates. Also, a number of complaints have been registered in the Banjara Hills Police Station against it, and are pending trial," they said.

The VHP leaders demanded that the government take stringent action against the channel for its "derogatory remarks on the Hindu society".