Yati Narsinghanand, a controversial priest based in Ghaziabad, has been booked for hate speech following his allegedly objectionable comments about Prophet Muhammad, which have ignited protests in Ghaziabad and other states.
Detention Claims:
Close aides of Narsinghanand claimed he had been detained in Ghaziabad, though police have not confirmed this information. After the remarks gained attention online, a crowd gathered outside the Dasna Devi temple in Ghaziabad on Friday night, prompting police to disperse the crowd and bolster security around the temple.
Legal Actions:
Complaints against Narsinghanand have been lodged in multiple states. AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi approached the Hyderabad police commissioner on Saturday to demand legal action against him. Consequently, an FIR was filed by the Telangana police, and another was registered in Amravati, Maharashtra, where protests turned violent, resulting in injuries to 21 police officers and damage to 10 police vehicles due to stone-pelting.
The FIR against Narsinghanand cites various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 299 (deliberate acts intended to outrage religious feelings), 302 (intentionally wounding religious sentiments), and 197 (actions that harm national integration).
Background:
Narsinghanand is the chief priest of the Dasna temple and has a history of making controversial remarks, with several cases filed against him. The controversial comments reportedly occurred during an event at the Hindi Bhavan in Ghaziabad on September 29.
Calls for Action:
Owaisi and several Muslim organizations, including Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind and Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH), have demanded that Narsinghanand’s bail be revoked and that he be arrested. Maulana Arshad Madani, president of Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, described Narsinghanand’s remarks as “intolerable blasphemy,” while JIH Vice President Malik Motasim Khan condemned the statements as deeply hurtful and a deliberate provocation aimed at inciting communal tensions.
Response from Officials:
In response to the protests, the Dasna police have registered an FIR against 150 individuals for their demonstrations outside the temple. BJP MLA Nand Kishor Gurjar alleged that Narsinghanand’s temple had been attacked on Friday, although police have not verified any such attack. Gurjar further criticized police actions, suggesting more severe measures should have been taken against protesters, claiming it was an attack on Hindutva.
This unfolding situation highlights ongoing tensions and the complexities surrounding communal relations in India.