By Ajit Begum-
The Indian Supreme Court on Friday castigated suspended BJP leader, Nupur Sharma(pictured0 for her “disturbing” remark against Prophet Mohammad, saying it has led to unfortunate incidents in the country . The court condemned the remark as one made either for cheap publicity, political agenda or some nefarious activities.
The court’s stern reprimand comes after a tailor was hacked to death inside his shop by two men in broad daylight. The murder victim reportedly had recently shared a social media post in support of Nupur Sharma– former BJP leader who had made controversial remarks against Prophet Mohammad.
The assailants identified themselves in the video as Riyaz Akhtari and Ghouse Mohammad. Riyaz could be seen in the video attacking 47-year-old Kanhaiya Lal with a sharp-edged weapon while the other, Ghouse, recorded the crime on his mobile phone. The incident took place in Udaipur’s Maldas area.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday took over the investigation of the brutal murder. The two accused were arrested within hours of the incident. NIA on Thursday said it suspects the role of a “terror gang and not a terror outfit”. The anti-terror agency, however, made it clear that there is a role of a bigger gang behind the brutal killing and that it was not just an act done by only two persons, who were arrested by state police after the incident.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party faced heavy criticism in Muslim countries over the comments Muslims took to the streets across Asia, including India, where protesters faced a crackdown by Indian authorities.
The Indian government has since asked social media firms to remove content justifying Udaipur murder; SC says Nupur Sharma’s outburst responsible for Udaipur incident; Udaipur killing accused moved to high security jail in Ajmer; Follow for the latest news and updates on the case
Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh released a statement on the “far-reaching observations” made by the apex court on Sharma’s case.
“The Supreme Court of India has made crucial and far-reaching observations today in the case of (former) BJP Spokesperson, Ms Nupur Sharma… The remarks by the Hon’ble Supreme Court, which resonate with the entire country, should make the party in power hang its head in shame,” Ramesh said in the statemen
Meanwhile, multiple cases were registered against Sharma in different cities, following which she moved the SC to transfer all cases against her to Delhi, citing threats.
The top court scathing in its criticism of Sharma saying. The Hindu Times reported the Supreme Court as stating: “her loose tongue has set the entire country on fire.” “Her outburst is responsible for unfortunate incident at Udaipur,” the bench added. “What is the business of the TV channel to discuss the matter which is sub-judice, except to promote an agenda?”, Supreme Court says while hearing Nupur Sharma’s plea to club FIRs over her remarks.
“A spokesperson can’t make such statements. Sometimes power goes into the heads of people and they think they are everything. Why didn’t she (Sharma) file a case against the ones who instigated her to make these statements?” the SC bench said.
A vacation bench of Justices Surya Kant and JB Pardiwala allowed her to withdraw the plea. “These remarks are very disturbing and smack of arrogance. What is her business to make such remarks? These remarks have led to unfortunate incidents in the country…These people are not religious. They do not have respect for other religions. These remarks were made for cheap publicity or for political agenda or some other nefarious activities”, the bench said during the hearing.
The bench further said, “She should have gone to the TV and apologised to the nation.” “She was too late to withdraw…and that too she withdrew it conditionally, saying if sentiments hurt”, Supreme Court bech noted on Nupur Sharma’s remark on Prophet.
Justice Kant said, “The way she has ignited emotions across the country… This lady is single handedly responsible for what is happening in the country. There was provocation from the other debator, senior advocate Maninder Singh for Nupur Sharma submitted. “If you are a spokesperson of a party, it is not a license to say things like this, if there is a misue of the debate, the first thing she should have done was to file an FIR against the anchor”, Supreme Court said while hearing Sharma’s petition.
Meanwhile, in the face of all the uproar, Dutch lawmaker Geert Wilders has again defended former Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson Nupur Sharma, saying she is not responsible for anything and should never apologise for speaking the truth about the Islamic prophet. This followed after some judges of the Supreme Court of India deemed the former BJP spokesman ‘responsible’ for the barbaric murder of Hindu man Kanhaiya Lal by two Islamists in Udaipur, Rajasthan.
In a tweet made on Friday, Wilders wrote, “I thought India had no sharia courts. She should never apologize for speaking the truth about #Muhammad. She is not responsible for Udaipur. Radical intolerant jihadi Muslims are responsible and nobody else. NupurSharma is a hero.”