Booked for casteist slur in FB Live, Kannada actor-politician Upendra blames slip of tongue

Kannada actor and politician Upendra is in hot water over his recent use of a casteist slur in a Facebook Live video. The actor-cum-politician has been booked under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and several protests have been staged against the actor's remarks. So far, two FIRs have been registered against the actor.

Bengaluru police have also met with the actor and issued him a notice. He has also been summoned for questioning by Chennammana Kere Achukattu police.

More trouble for Kannada actor Upendra over anti-Dalit remarks; cops reach his Bengaluru residence. @sagayrajp tells us more. (@nabilajamal_) pic.twitter.com/yRhuPGuPWn

— IndiaToday (@IndiaToday) August 14, 2023

What did Upendra say?

On the sixth anniversairy of Upendra's political party, Prajakeeya, the actor-politician took to a Facebook Live video to speak about societal change. 

• The word "Holageri" is referred to a region where the Holeya community resides. This region used to be outside a village as the community members were considered untouchables. 

Popular Kannada actor Upendra faces atrocity case for alleged anti Dalit remark during a social media live on the anniversary of his political outfit "Prajaakeeya"

He calls it slip of tongue, deletes & apologises. Case registered under Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes… pic.twitter.com/F63KbDYCLk

— Nabila Jamal (@nabilajamal_) August 14, 2023

• Upendra has been accused of using the word negatively, further perpetuating casteist prejudices and injustices towards the community members.
• They also said that the use of the slur by an influential figure like Upendra only encouraged his fans and followers to do the same. 

Holeyageri does not mean filth

I never expected these words from a prominent Kannada actor like Upendra. He referred to Holeyagiri to mean filth.

It is the same Holeyas and Madigas who promoted Upendra by going to his movies on the first day. They admire him as their hero.… https://t.co/Kk3pTmOzpy

— Nethrapal (@nethrapal) August 12, 2023

• A case was registered against the actor on August 13 at Bengaluru's CK Achukattu police station. 
• A second FIR has been filed at Halasuru Gate Police Station. 
• Upendra has since deleted the video and apologised for using the derogatory word. 

[ALSO READ: What is Bhoota Kola, the Tulu tradition Kannada movie Kantara is based on?]

However, soon after, Upendra also tweeted on X saying that the whole situation was being blown out of proportion by people who don't know his life story, being born into poverty and struggling to rise above by himself. 

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

This once again did not go down with many, who criticised him for being insensitive towards the suffering of the SC/ST communities despite experiencing extreme poverty. 

...it could be to normalise such casteist slurs still you casually used it. Many would do the same. That is why your incident has took the importance.

3/

— 🌱 | ಪ್ರಸಾದ್ | Prasad | ಘನನೀಲಿ 💙💙| 🌱 (@Manjina_Hani) August 13, 2023

Protesters have burned effigies of Upendra. The police have promised to take action against the actor according to the law. Punishment under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act includes minimum imprisonment of 6 months with or without a fine. 

[ALSO READ: The Hunt for Veerappan Review: India’s costliest manhunt makes for mighty good Netflix watch]