Malayali writer and All India Radio programme producer K.R. Indira has once again stirred controversy after a hate-filled comment she posted on Facebook urged Hindus in Kerala to “take up arms and hack fiercely” in response to Waqf protests. The post, which was later deleted, drew widespread condemnation and sparked calls for legal action, reported the Maktoob Media.
The remark, written in Malayalam and posted under a discussion on violence in West Bengal following anti-Waqf demonstrations, was translated as: “Hindus must learn to take up arms and hack fiercely. It is not enough to learn how to lead a Namajapa (religious) procession.” The comment came to public attention after Facebook user Shahul Ambalath shared a screenshot.
Despite the severity of her statement, Kerala Police have not taken action against Indira, igniting outrage among civil society groups and rights activists. Critics are highlighting this as yet another instance of selective policing, especially given Indira’s past record of inciting hate.
In 2020, Indira was booked under IPC Section 153A and Section 120(o) of the Kerala Police Act after making genocidal remarks against Muslims in the context of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam. She had suggested sterilizing those left out of the NRC and contaminating their water supply with contraceptives, a statement condemned widely as hate speech.
The earlier complaint against her was filed by human rights activist M.R. Vipindas and supported by public figures like writer-activist Rekha Raj and lawyer Sreejith Perumana. Yet, despite formal charges, authorities have consistently failed to pursue meaningful legal action against her.
In 2020, there were even demands for her removal from All India Radio, with critics asserting that someone promoting communal hatred should not hold a government post. In some cases, those who opposed her hate-filled rhetoric — such as activist Usman Kattappana — were booked by police instead.
“This is not just about one individual,” said activist Rekha Raj. “It’s about an ideology that is pushing Muslims into a permanent state of fear. The normalization of such rhetoric is deeply dangerous.”
Human rights groups are now urging immediate legal proceedings against K.R. Indira for her latest comments, warning that continued inaction only emboldens hate speech and undermines communal harmony in Kerala.
