Obscene remarks against Neha Bora: RSS-linked group leader under fire
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New Delhi: Faiz Khan, a member of the RSS-linked Muslim Rashtriya Manch (MRM), has triggered outrage with sexually derogatory remarks targeting All India Students’ Association (AISA) national president Neha Bora, who has been leading protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Centre and state governments.
Khan, who frequently appears in television debates as an Islamic scholar, made the remarks after Delhi Police detained Bora during a protest at Jantar Mantar on Saturday. He allegedly reduced the student leader to a degrading sexual slur, questioning her status as a woman and portraying her solely in terms of attracting men.
Khan used distasteful language against Bora, calling her a maada (which loosely translates to "female animal") who attracts males, according to Siasat.
Bora has been at the forefront of a campaign demanding the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner and protesting what AISA describes as anti-democratic actions by the Narendra Modi government. Khan also mocked her activism and dismissed her protest efforts as a joke.
The remarks have drawn particular attention because of Khan's prominent presence on social media and television debates. He has around 180,000 Instagram followers and nearly 40,000 YouTube subscribers. Despite presenting himself as a critic of anti-Muslim sentiment, the report alleges that he has repeatedly defended mob violence, killings targeting Muslims and controversial remarks by BJP leaders.
Following the detention, AISA demanded the immediate release of Bora and other protesters held at Jantar Mantar and called for Delhi Police to function independently.
The student organisation also urged police personnel performing official duties to display clear nameplates and called for citizens to be allowed to protest peacefully without intimidation or detention. It maintained that those who believe electoral malpractice is unjust should be able to raise their concerns without their voices being suppressed.