News Delhi: In response to the Supreme Court's decision to look into hate speeches made at Haridwar and Delhi last year, two Hindu groups have filed a petition urging the court to arrest Muslim leaders instead, claiming that Hindu culture and religion was under attack.
Hindu Sena President Vishnu Gupta has demanded that Muslim leaders be arrested for their hate speeches instead. The statements by religious leaders at 'Dharma Sansad' were responses to attacks on Hindu culture by non-Hindus, and cannot be described as "hate speech", the appeal contended.
The Hindu Sena president has also demanded that AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi and other Muslim leaders like Waris Pathan be arrested, accusing them of giving hate speeches.
In addition to this, the petition filed by journalist Qurban Ali against the Haridwar Dharma Sansad was made to "scandalise" and paint Hindu leaders in a bad light. The petitioner belongs to the Muslim community and was not supposed to raise objections against affairs or activities related to Hindu Dharma Sansad, the plea reads.
Another petition filed by the Hindu Front For Justice has demanded that the Supreme Court look into 25 incidents of alleged hate speeches by the Muslim community against Hindus, in light of its decision to investigate the Haridwar hate speech incident.
On January 12, the Supreme Court had issued notice to the Centre, Uttarakhand government and the Delhi police, seeking an account of the action taken on the issue. So far, the Uttarakhand Police have arrested Yati Narsinghanand, and Jitendra Narayan Tyagi (called Wazim Rizvi before his conversion) in connection with the case. Both of them are in judicial custody.
Contempt of court proceedings have been filed against Yati Narasinghanand on Saturday for remarks made about the Supreme Court. The religious leader had commented that those "who believe" in the Supreme Court and the Army would die a "death of dogs". Attorney General KK Venugopal, Attorney General of India, approved the contempt proceedings after reviewing the statements made by the Hindu leader.