Boycott Muslim call event: Delhi Police files FIR, albeit with mild Section

On a day when the Supreme Court underlined that hate speeches are sullying the entire atmosphere, Delhi Police allegedly invoked mild sections against the organizers of a ‘hate event’ where speakers, including a BJP parliamentarian, called for “boycott” of Muslims.

The event was organised by several Hindu right outfits, including the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), at Delhi’s Dilshad Garden on Sunday where BJP MP from west Delhi, Parvesh Singh Verma called for a “total boycott” of Muslims. In a purported video which was widely shared on social media, the BJP parliamentarian can be heard saying that there is no need to buy vegetables from their (Muslims) stalls. He then went on: “They have meat shops; there is a need to close down all the meat shops which are running without licence. If you want to set them straight, the only solution is total boycott. Do you agree? Raise your hands if you agree. Say with me that ‘we will boycott them’. ‘We will not buy anything from their shops, we will not employ them’.”

The event triggered sharp reaction from various quarters, including political parties. Congress spokesperson Dr Shama Mohamed tweeted, “BJP MP Parvesh Verma orders the people of Delhi to financial boycott Muslims. Will @DelhiPolice act against this man for inciting hatred amongst communities? Does PM Modi condone this speech? Is this what BJP meant by Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas! Speak up @narendramodi.”

Following this, Delhi Police filed an FIR. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Shahadra) R Sathiyasundaram, said, “An FIR has been registered against the organisers under IPC Sec 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) for not taking permission from police.”

But critics say the section 188 which is ‘mild’ against the “severity of threats” issued at the public meet. Journalist Tarique Anwar, who worked for Newsclick, said that police should have gone through the speeches made by the leaders and slapped appropriate sections. Here the Section used is ‘too mild’, calling it “laughable”. He wrote: “An FIR under Section 188 of the IPC for genocide calls against Muslims. The said section has a provision of a simple impris­onment for a term, which may extend to one month or with fine which may extend to Rs 2,000, or with both.”

According to the police, the permission for the rally was not given, hence the case was filed under Section 188.

The ‘Jan Akrosh’ meeting was organised by VHP to protest against the murder of Manish, a 25-year-old resident of Sunder Nagri, located near Dilshad Garden, allegedly by three Muslims, reported Hindustan Times. However, all the three accused were arrested by Delhi Police.

VHP leader national spokesperson Vinod Bansal said that it was organized to protest against the growing attacks against the Hindu community. In a video tweeted by Bansal, the BJP leader is heard saying that “Jihadist” mindset is the reason behind Manish’s murder. “Today, Manish is not with us because of people with jihadist mindset.…our police is capable of taking action and we, Hindus, are also capable of taking action. If we want today, we can teach them a lesson within 24 hours. But we follow the law and have faith in the judicial system,” Verma said.

However, Delhi Police reportedly said that action would be taken as per the law. – INDIA NEWS STREAM