New Delhi: Leader of the Congress in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, on Wednesday, April 6, raised the issue of hate speeches being made against Muslims in different parts of the country.
He also mentioned the recent Hindu Mahapanchayat in Burari where militant Hindutva leader Yati Narsinghanand is alleged to have once again urged people to take up arms, violating his bail conditions.
Kharge had, along with Sushmita Dev, Luizinho Joaquim Faleiro and Mohammad Nadimul Haque of the Trinamool Congress, given notice under Rule 267 on issues of rising prices and instances of hate speeches.
However, when the House assembled, chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu said he has not allowed these issues to be raised under Rule 267.
Kharge insisted that he would like to state just one sentence and Naidu allowed him to speak.
At this Kharge said: “Sir, I have given a notice under Rule 267 regarding the rising instances of hate speeches in the country and also about the harassment of journalists, particularly The Hindustan Gazette, Newslaundry, The Quint, Article 14, etc. This is going on and swamis – they are speaking and giving instigating speeches – right from Haridwar to Delhi on Sunday.”
Also Read: With Call for Violence Against Muslims at Burari, Yati Narsinghanand Violates Bail Conditions
Kharge also referred to the Hindu Mahapanchayat and charged that “on Sunday, one Swami said that all Muslims should be butchered”.
At this, Naidu directed, “This shall not go on record. No community name will go on record.”
The chairman further said, “We should not quote his words if he has uttered a meaningless word. Again raising in the House and then having a discussion on who spoke what. That is not going to solve the problem. I have not allowed it.”
He added, “Nobody should indulge in hate speech against any community, minority, or majority. Communities should not be taken nobody should make any speech against anybody.”
Narsinghanand has been regularly in news because of his anti-Muslim speeches and actions, from addresses from the Dasna temple in Ghaziabad to the Haridwar Dharma Sansad following which he was booked for his call to take up arms against Muslims. Videos showing him making open threats are frequently shared by Hindutva supporters.
The latest event, in Burari, was held without police permission and a case was later filed in connection with the speeches made by Narsinghanand and others.
The Deputy Commissioner of Police (North West Delhi) Usha Rangnani had issued a statement in the matter, in which it was said that “some of the speakers, including Yati Narsinghanand Saraswati, Priest of Dasna Devi Temple and Suresh Chavhanke, Chief Editor of Sudarshan News, uttered words promoting disharmony, feelings of enmity, hatred or ill-will between two communities”.
Several journalists who attended the Burari meet were also allegedly roughed up and harassed following which cases under Section 323 (punishment for voluntarily causing hurt), 341 (punishment for wrongful restraint) and 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) of the Indian Penal Code were registered by the police.