New Delhi: Delhi Police have registered FIRs against former BJP functionaries Nupur Sharma and Naveen Kumar Jindal, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, controversial priest Yati Narsinghanand and others for allegedly posting and sharing messages on social media against the ‘maintenance of public tranquility and inciting people on divisive lines’.
A First Information Report (FIR) was lodged against Sharma on Thursday over the derogatory remarks during a TV debate last month. Jindal, Naqvi, Owaisi, Saraswati, and others were named in a separate FIR after the analysis of their “controversial messages” on social media, reports said quoting Delhi police officials.
Meanwhile, Owaisi, in a series of Tweets, said, “I’ve received an excerpt of the FIR. This is the first FIR I’ve seen that’s not specifying what the crime is. Imagine an FIR about a murder where cops don’t mention the weapon or that the victim bled to death. I don’t know which specific remarks of mine have attracted the FIR.
“It appears that Delhi Police lacks the courage to pursue cases against Yati, Nupur Sharma & Naveen Jindal etc This is why the delayed & weak response.”
“In fact Yati has violated his bail conditions repeatedly by inciting genocide against Muslims & insulting Islam”
“Delhi Police were probably trying to think of a way of registering an FIR against these people without offending Hindutvadi fanboys/girls. Delhi Police is suffering from “both sideism” or “balance-waad” syndromes. One side has openly insulted our Prophet while the other side has been named to assuage BJP supporters & make it look like there was hate speech on both sides.”
“Also note that the hate speech was by ruling party spokespersons & by prominent “Dharam Gurus” with close links to ruling party. This is being equated to random posts on social media with no social or political standing. In my case FIR isn’t even saying WHAT was offensive
He said, “Yati, Genocidal Sansad gang, Nupur, Naveen, etc have become used to there being no consequences. Weak action has only been taken when there was outrage for weeks or international condemnation or when courts pulled up the police.”
“In contrast, Muslim students, journalists, activists have been put in prison for l the crime of merely being Muslim,” the AIMIM chief said.
Deputy police commissioner KPS Malhotra said some notices have been sent to the social media intermediaries. He added the investigating team is in the process of sending more notices to seek details from other social media entities. Malhotra said more names may be added to the FIRs as they proceed in their investigation.
“The FIRs were registered against multiple individuals across religions. We will investigate the roles of various social media entities in promoting false and wrong information with an intention to create unrest in cyberspace and the physical space…compromising the social fabric,” said Malhotra.
The investigators said they will also analyse social media posts made in the past with the potential to “incite communal hatred” and “disturb peace and tranquillity in cyberspace and society”.
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