New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday said Nupur Sharma's loose tongue set the entire country on fire.
Castigating the leader further, the court said her outburst on TV is responsible for unfortunate incident in Udaipur.
Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Nupur Sharma's comments on Prophet Mohammad, according to the court, were made either for "cheap publicity, political agenda or for some nefarious activities."
"The way she has ignited emotions across the country... This lady is single handedly responsible for what is happening in the country," Justice Surya Kant, leading a Vacation Bench comprising Justice J.B. Pardiwala, observed orally.
The court was hearing Nupur Sharma's plea to club FIRs over remarks when it said the TV channel discussed the matter which was sub-judice.
Blaming her for "igniting emotions across the country" with her "disturbing" remarks, the court said that the former BJP leader owed the nation an apology.
The apex court refused to grand transfer of all FIRs to Delhi, which were registered against her in several states following her comments on Prophet Muhammad.
Senior advocate Maninder Singh representing Nupur Sharma told the court that she had apologised for her comments. On hearing this, the court lashed out, saying she should have gone back on air and apologised to the nation.
"She was too late to withdraw...and that too, she withdrew her comments conditionally, saying 'if sentiments hurt' ", Supreme Court remarked.
The court responded that Sharma should have gone on the TV and apologised to the nation.