Upendra.
Credit: Facebook/@Upendra
An FIR has been filed against popular Kannada film actor and director Upendra under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act for using a derogatory proverb about Dalits.
Upendra on Saturday went live on his Facebook and Instagram accounts to speak about his political outfit and take suggestions from people about its future. During the interaction, referring to negative comments about him, he cited an old Kannada proverb about Holeyas, a Scheduled Caste. "We should consider only good comments," he stated.
The video went viral, prompting backlash from Dalit groups. Upendra was quick to apologise on Facebook.
“During today’s live interaction on my social media account, I slipped my tongue and quoted an old proverb. I have noticed that many people are disappointed with my statement. I extend apologies to everyone for using the proverb and have deleted the video from my social media accounts,” Upendra wrote in Kannada.
However, the Samatha Sainik Dal (SSD) wrote to the Assistant Director of the Social Welfare Department, Madhusudhan K N, who registered a complaint at the CK Achukattu police station.
The complaint demanded strict action against the actor.
SSD youth wing president, Gopal Giriyappa, said the context in which Upendra used the proverb suggested that Holeyas (a Dalit community) were "troublemakers and unimportant", which has hurt the community.
“As a person belonging to the Dalit community, I am deeply hurt by the context in which Upendra used the proverb. Our whole community has been hurt by his statement. Being a public figure with a large fan base, he should use his words carefully,” Giriyappa told DH.
He demanded a public apology from Upendra.
P Krishnakant, Deputy Commissioner of Police (South), said the police were reviewing the video to ascertain the actor's statement. Any further action will be taken accordingly, he added.