Politics

Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], June 9 (ANI): West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday lashed out at the Centre for spoiling the communal harmony in the country and urged communities to maintain peace in the larger interest of the common people.

This statement by the Chief Minister comes after Delhi Police registered two FIRs-- one against former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma and the other against 31 people, including AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi and controversial priest Yati Narsinghanand - for allegedly spreading hate and hurting religious sentiments, officials said on Thursday.

In a series of tweets, Mamata Banerjee wrote, "I condemn the recent heinous and atrocious hate speech remarks by a few disastrous BJP leaders, resulting in not only spread of violence but also a division of the fabric of the country, leading to disturbance of peace and amity."

"I strongly seek that the accused leaders of BJP be arrested immediately so that the unity of the country is not disturbed and people at large do not face mental agony," she tweeted.

Banerjee added, "At the same time, I appeal to all my brothers and sisters from all castes, creeds, religions, and communities to maintain peace in the larger interest of the common people, despite the provocation which we so strongly condemn."

Delhi Police has registered two FIRs one against former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma and the other against 31 people, including AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi and controversial priest Yati Narsinghanand - for allegedly spreading hate and hurting religious sentiments, officials said on Thursday.

Former Delhi BJP media unit head Naveen Kumar Jindal, who was expelled from the party over alleged remarks against Prophet Mohammad, and journalist Saba Naqvi, are among the people named in the second FIR.

Reacting to the FIR, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Owaisi said that he will not be intimidated by these tactics, asserting that criticising hate speech and giving hate speeches cannot be equated.

Owaisi attacked Centre, alleging that if he were sincere, he would have stamped out hate speech without indulging in "fake balance-vaad".

The AIMIM chief alleged that Delhi Police is suffering from "both sideism" or "balance-waad" syndrome. "One side has openly insulted our Prophet while the other side has been named to assuage BJP supporters and make it look like there was the hate speech on both sides," he said in a tweet today. (ANI)