A Delhi-based lawyer has filed a complaint against senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid with the Delhi Police Commissioner Rakesh Asthana for comparing Hindutva with radical Islamist groups like ISIS and Boko Haram in his recently released book, Sunrise over Ayodhya: Nationhood in Our Times.
Advocate Vineet Jindal has requested the Delhi Police Commissioner to register an FIR against Khurshid. In his complaint, Jindal said the comment has been made in a chapter called “The Saffron Sky”. “Sanatan dharma and classical Hinduism known to sages and saints were being pushed aside by a robust version of Hindutva, by all standards a political version similar to the jihadist Islam of groups like ISIS and Boko Haram of recent years,” Khurshid states in his new book on page 113. The statement published in the said book is not only instigating and provoking enraged emotions among followers of Hinduism, the Jindal alleged.
The complaint further states that the Constitution provides every citizen with freedom of speech and expression but the misuse of this right is inexplicable when it threatens the honour and harmony of the country. When provoking citizens based on community and religion threatens the security of the nation, it is then considered as a grave offence.
“The contents of the statement made by the accused claim Hinduism to be equivalent to ISIS and Boko Haram, which are terrorist groups. It is a quite aggravating and defamatory statement for the whole Hindu community and also questions their values and virtues about a society. The equivalence of Hinduism to ISIS and Boko Haram is perceived as a negative ideology Hindus have been following and Hinduism is violent, inhuman and oppressive,”
-the complaint said.
Advocate Jindal further highlighted that this statement shows Khurshid intent of waging war and activating enmity between different groups on the grounds of religion which is against the ideology of a secular democratic country like ours and also a criminal offence as per the law of the land. Being a Member of parliament and a former Law Minister, he is a public figure, having a large influence on the public, the statement is agitating the Hindu community and also threatens the security, peace and harmony of our nation and disrupts public order.
“The accused by making the above-cited statement is his book has committed offences under Sections 153,153A ,298 and 505 (2) of the Indian Penal Code which are cognizable offences and very serious. The complainant requests you to lodge an FIR against him under the above-said section and take strict legal action,”
-the complaint reads.
Another Delhi-based lawyer Vivek Garg has complained to the Delhi Police Commissioner and requested the registering of a case against Salman Khurshid. Garg has said that he has defamed Hindutva with his statement as well as compared Hindutva with terrorism.