Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati on Monday reacted strongly against a controversial remark on the Prophet and said that mere suspension and expulsion of two Bharatiya Janata Party leaders was not sufficient.
She urged the BJP to take legal action against those using offensive language against religion and send them to jail.
Taking to Twitter, Mayawati said, “The use of offensive language for any religion is not appropriate. In this matter, the BJP should also strictly tighten the noose around its people. Only suspending and expelling them will not work; they should be sent to jail under strict laws.”
She also said that respect for all religions was necessary for the country.
The BJP on Sunday suspended its spokesperson Nupur Sharma from the primary membership of the party and expelled its Delhi media head Naveen Kumar Jindal after their alleged controversial remarks on minorities.
While during a TV debate, Sharma’s comments aimed at the founder of Islam have drawn the ire of Muslim groups, Jindal also posted objectionable tweets, deleted later, and has been accused of often posting inciting comments.
The Mumbai police registered an FIR against Sharma based on a complaint by Irfan Shaikh, joint secretary of the Mumbai wing of Raza Academy.
It stated that Sharma, in a news debate on the Gyanvapi issue, allegedly made controversial comments about Prophet Muhammad. Besides, Jindal allegedly tweeted against the interests of the country.
The BSP chief also stressed that the Kanpur violence case should be thoroughly probed and demanded that innocent people should not be harassed in the matter.
“It is very important to get to the bottom of the violence that has happened in Kanpur recently. At the same time, innocent people should not be harassed in the police action against this violence, this is also the demand of the BSP,” Mayawati said in a tweet.
The violence in Kanpur Nagar started after some people tried to force closure of shops which were opposed by the other group, the police said. Two persons and one policeman were injured in the clashes. Hayat Jaffar Hashmi, the mastermind in the Kanpur Nagar violence case, was arrested along with three others on Saturday.