There is no end to the troubles for former West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee. An FIR has been lodged against him for allegedly calling Sanatan Dharma a “dirty religion”. This entire matter is related to a statement given during the Eid celebrations held in Kolkata last year.
It is alleged that while attending an event organized on Eid in Kolkata last year, Mamata Banerjee had allegedly made derogatory comments about Sanatan Dharma. This complaint against him has been lodged at Siliguri Cyber Police Station on behalf of Advocate Rinki Chatterjee Singh. In this complaint, it was alleged that Mamata had called Sanatan Dharma a ‘dirty religion’ in a program, and because of this the religious sentiments of crores of Hindus had been hurt.
Various sections under BNS
In this FIR, a case has been registered under several sections of the Indian Justice Code (BNS). Many sections related to spreading hatred between religious groups, making derogatory remarks with the aim of disturbing peace and making criminal threats have been included in these.
It was also alleged in the complaint that Mamata had given another controversial statement during the assembly election campaign in West Bengal. According to the complainant, he had said that if any particular community attacked Hindus, he would be killed at 12 o’clock. This is a Bengali idiom which is seen as a warning of dire consequences.
Shubhendu had criticized
This entire matter now took a political form. BJP leaders have also accused Mamata of hurting Hindu sentiments and doing politics of Muslim appeasement. Chief Minister Shubhendu Adhikari himself has publicly criticized him on this matter.
Advocate Rinki Chatterjee argued in her petition that the purpose of such comments was to influence voters through fear and intimidation and to promote social unrest and communal hatred.
The police have registered an FIR under various sections of the Indian Justice Code (BNS). The charges include criminal intimidation under Section 351(1) and intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace under Section 352. Section 353(2) has also been imposed, which provides for punishment for disseminating information with the aim of spreading hatred or enmity between different religious groups.
Earlier in March, senior BJP leader and then Leader of Opposition Subhendu Adhikari had attacked Mamata, accusing her of insulting religious sentiments and using communal rhetoric as a weapon during public addresses.
Then on social media he raised questions on Mamata’s alleged use of the word ‘dirty religion’ during the program organized at Red Road on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr. The officer asked in his post, which religion specifically were you talking about? Sanatan Hindu Dharma?
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