Anti-Muslim slogans raised at Jantar Mantar, FIR filed

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 9

The Delhi Police today said they have registered an FIR under various sections of the IPC, including 153-A (promoting enmity among different social groups) against unidentified persons a day after “inflammatory, anti-Muslim slogans” were allegedly raised at Jantar Mantar during an event against “Colonial-era laws” in the country and also “bringing uniform civil laws”.

The police in its FIR added that the event organisers had no permission to hold the event and so Section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) and violation of the DDMA Act pertaining to Covid-19 protocol violations have also been added.

According to police sources, the rally was called by Supreme Court lawyer and former Delhi BJP spokesperson Ashwini Upadhyay under the banner “Bharat Jodo Aandolan”. However, this morning Upadhyay sent a text message to the police claiming some people tried to malign the event and he left the venue soon after it ended at 12.15 pm, they said.

Deepak Yadav, DCP (New Delhi district), said, “A case has been registered under relevant sections of law. The investigation is in progress.”

The rally had hundreds of people in attendance, police officials said, while claiming that the purported videos of the event showed people raising slogans threatening harm to Muslims.

Activist Shabnam Hashmi said: “Highly communal, Islamophobia demonstration took place at Jantar Mantar on August 8 in the police presence. When I sent the video to the DCP I was asked to file a complaint. Is it my duty to stop hate speech? Has police been told to close its eyes to hate speeches by Sangh?”

However, Shipra Srivastava, media in-charge of Bharat Jodo Aandolan, has reportedly said, “The protest was held against colonial laws and demanding to abolish 222 British laws. We have seen the video, but have no idea who they are. The police should take strict action against the persons who raised the slogans.”