Qawwal was booked for "anti-national" remarks: MP Minister

Bhopal: After a qawwali singer, Uttar Pradesh Shareef Parwaaz, was booked for his alleged provocative remarks against Prime Minister Modi, Madhya Pradesh Home Minister said on Thursday that artists should not do anything anti-national since now is the age of nationalism and the country is run by a nationalist government, The Indian Express reported.

The minister said that be it a writer, poet or qawwal, they should remove anti-national thoughts from their minds. Regarding naming the qawwal in the case, the minister told the media that he had given orders for an FIR against the singer under Section 505 (statements conducing to public mischief), 153 (provocation with intent to cause riots) and 298 (deliberate intent to wound religious feelings) of the IPC.

The qawwali event was held on March 28 in the Rewa district of Madhya Pradesh. The singer sang that "Modi ji kahte hai hum hai, Yogi ji kahte hai hum hai, Amit Shah kahte hai hum hai, lekin hai kaun? Agar gareeb nawaz chah le to Hindustan pata hi nahi chalega kaha par basa tha, kaha par tha". This translates as "Modi, Yogi, and Shah say they are there. But who are they? If Gareeb Nawaz (patron of the poor) wishes, it will not be known where India existed." The event was attended by nearly 10,000 people.

The committee that organised the event was also burdened with charges. The committee responded that how could they be accused since it was not them who asked the qawwal to sing so. They said that they even condemned the qawwal's act.

However, in a video released later, the qawwal said he was referring to Gareeb Nawaz. His words were misunderstood, and if those hurt the sentiments of many, including Hindu brothers, he would like to apologise with all his heart since he is also a Hindustani, the qawwal said.