Bangalore: The Congress on February 16 demanded invocation of prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) against Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leaders including its international secretary Praveen Togadia for their "continued outbursts against minorities and dalits".

The statements of VHP leaders whipped up communal passions and there was a need to check them, the new Karnataka unit Congress President B Janardhana Poojary told reporters.

He expressed surprise over the silence maintained by the Centre on the statements made by the VHP leaders.

On the criminal case filed by a scribe against Congress Working Committee (CWC) member and Karnataka Minister Motamma for her reported statement against Togadia, he said it was an "act to stifle the voice of a dalit leader" and asserted the party would rally behind her.

Dismissing Motamma's allegation that the state leadership had let her down after she was allegedly targetted by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and VHP, he said it was "her personal opinion".

Congressmen in the state were directed to aggressively campaign to counter VHP's hindutva plank and educate people on their designs to divide the society. The people of the country need no education by VHP on hindutva, he said.

About two months back, Motamma had stated that people of her Chikmagalur Assembly constituency would teach Togadia a lesson if he visited there. However, she later denied making such a statement.

PTI