An “anti-Hindu” comment by Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) student leader Sharjeel Usmani at a recent Elgaar Parishad in Pune has sparked a controversy, with the Opposition BJP demanding that Usmani be booked for promoting enmity between different community and sedition for his inflammatory remarks against Hindus.
Upping the ante over Usmani’s “anti-Hindu” remark, Maharashtra’s former chief minister and senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday demanded to know “if there is Moghal Raj in Maharashtra?” and threatened that his party would launch an agitation if action was not taken immediately against the AMU student leader for his controversial remarks.
Speaking at the Elgar Parishad held in Pune on January 30, Usmani had said, “Aaj ka Hindu Samaj… Hindustan me Hindu Samaj buri tarike se sadd chukka hai (The Hindu community has become rotten in India today)”.
Talking to media persons, Fadnavis said, “If a man by name Sharjeel Usmani with rotten head comes to Pune in Maharashtra calls Hindus rotten, we do not accept and will not tolerate such statements. The Maharashtra government should act this man. Don we have a Moghal Raj in Maharashtra. Can anyone heap abuses on Hindus and get away in Maharashtra?. “
Fadnavis charged that the Maharashtra government had known from the beginning that this Elgaar Parishad been organised with a clear intent to create disharmony between different communities, that this meet was being organised to allow the participating leaders speak against other communities. In the process, the leaders concerned would create law and order problems in the state. Even in this part,
Elagaar Parishads had contributed to this kind of situation. Despite knowing this, the state government had given permission for the Elgaar Parishad”.
“We will tolerate leaders participating in the Elgaar Parishad call the Hindus rotten. If the state government does not take immediate action Usmani, the BJP will launch an agitation in the state. If no action is taken against Usmani, it will go prove that he has made the remarks with the blessings of the Uddhav Thackeray government,” Fadnavis said.
Meanwhile, senior BJP leader Atul Bhatkalkar and BJYM state secretary lodged separate complaints against Usmani in Mumbai and Pune respectively seeking registration of an FIR against the latter under sections 153-A( promoting enmity between different groups on the grounds of religion etc) , 295-A ( Deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class...) and 124- a ( Sedition) for his speeches targeting the Hindu community.