The Intelligence Fusion and Strategic Operation (IFSO) unit of the Delhi Police Special Cell has registered a First Information Report (FIR) against 31 people, including AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi and controversial priest Yati Narsinghanand, for allegedly spreading hate and hurting religious sentiments. Another FIR has also been registered by police against former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma for disrupting public tranquility and inciting people on divisive lines.
The FIRs also included the names of former BJP leader Naveen Kumar Jindal, journalist Saba Naqvi, Hindu Mahasabha office bearer Pooja Shakun Pandey, Maulana Mufti Nadeem from Rajasthan and Peace Party chief spokesperson Shadab Chauhan.
According to Delhi Police, the two FIRs were registered by the IFSO on Wednesday after an analysis of social media. Reacting to the FIR, Owaisi said that he will not be intimidated by these tactics and asserted that criticising a hate speech and giving hate speeches cannot be equated.
Owaisi attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, 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 were hate speeches on both sides,” he said. Notices will be sent to the social media intermediaries for the details, a senior police officer said. “We have registered 2 FIRs under appropriate Sections on the basis of social media analysis against those trying to disrupt public tranquility & inciting people on divisive lines. One pertains to Ms Nupur Sharma & other against multiple social media entities,” Delhi Police tweeted.
"Even as notices are being sent to social media intermediaries for details of those behind these accounts/entities, #DelhiPolice appeals to everyone to desist from posting anything that may disrupt social and communal harmony," the Delhi Police said in another tweet. In a series of tweets, Owaisi said that he will consult his lawyers and address it as and when required.
“I've received an excerpt of the FIR. This is the first FIR I've seen that's not specifying what the crime is. Imagine an FIR about a murder where cops don't mention the weapon or that the victim bled to death.
I don't know which specific remarks of mine have attracted the FIR," Owaisi tweeted. “It appears that Delhi Police lacks the courage to pursue cases against Yati, Nupur Sharma & Naveen Jindal, etc. This is why the delayed & weak response," he alleged.
The AIMIM chief alleged that in fact, controversial Yati has violated his bail conditions repeatedly by inciting genocide against Muslims and insulting Islam. “Delhi Police were probably trying to think of a way of registering an FIR against these people without offending Hindutvadi fanboys/girls," he alleged.
On Wednesday, police had said the unit will investigate the roles of various social media entities in promoting false and wrong information with an intention to create unrest in the cyber space, that have ramifications on the physical space thereby compromising with the social fabric of the country.
