Delhi court seeks police report in Harsh Mander plea for hate speech FIR against Himanta Biswa Sarma, Nishikant Dubey

A Delhi court on Friday sought a report from Delhi Police on a plea filed by activist Harsh Mander seeking action against Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and BJP MP Nishikant Dubey for alleged hate speech against Muslims and former Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) SY Quraishi.

Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM) Paras Dalal of the Rouse Avenue Courts said that the case will be heard next on August 31.

The Court has asked the Delhi Police to inform whether any complaint was made by Mander against Sarma and Dubey and whether any cause of action arose in their jurisdiction.

"Whether the complaint received at the Police Station discloses commission of any cognizable offence(s)? If, yes whether FIR was registered and action/ inquiry conducted as per the directions/ guidelines of the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India in Lalita Kumari v. Govt. Of U.P. (2014) 2 SCC 1," the Court asked the police.

Mander has sought action against Sarma for his comments about Muslims and payment of money to Muslim priests by the Delhi government. Against Dubey, action is being sought for his targeting former Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) SY Quraishi based on his religion.

Sarma statement in question read,

"ये केजरीवाल कैसा लोग है... थोड़ा दिन पहले हमारे पुजारियों को बुलाया.. बुला के क्या बोला? "हम इस बार आप लोगों को भी महीना पैसा देना शुरु करूंगा।" मतलब? पुज्ञारियों को अब शुरु करेगा। ओर दस साल पहले से किसको देके रखे थे? मुल्ले को दे रखे थे? तो मुल्ले का नंबर आगे हो गया .. पुजारी का नंबर क्या पीछे हो गया?

भारत हिन्दू का प्रदेश है । भारत हिन्दू का प्रदेश है। हिन्दू का। सिविलाइजेशन है। हिन्दू का नंबर दो में नहीं आ सकता है। ये देश हिंदुओं ने बनाया है। ये देश हिंदुओं ने सजाया है । ओर ये देश हिंदुओं ने ही भारत को विश्वगुरु बनाएगा । हम हिंदू "भी" में नहीं ... "पुजारी को भी मिलेगा" ... नहीं बेटा । पहले पुजारी को मिलेगा । बाद में जिसको है उनको मिलेगा। मैं ठीक बोला हु के नहीं बोला हु?"

English translation: "What kind of a person is Kejriwal... A few days ago he called priests. What did he say to them? "We will now start paying you monthly". Meaning? He will start paying priests now. And who was he paying for the last 10 years? Was he paying mullahs? So, mullahs are in front... why are priests behind?

India is a country of Hindus. India is a country of Hindus. It's a Hindu civilisation. Hindus can't be number two. This country is made by Hindus. And Hindus have made this country vishwaguru. We will now pay Hindus as well? No, son. First Hindus will get. After that, anyone else will get. Am I right or not?"

Meanwhile, Dubey's statement came after Quraishi's criticims of the changes of the Waqf Act.

"आप [SY Quraishi] चुनाव आयुक्त नहीं थे, आप मुस्लिम आयुक्त थे। झारखंड के संथाल परगना में सबसे ज्यादा बांग्लादेशी घुसपैठियों को आपके कार्यकाल में वोटर बनाया गया।

पैगंबर मुहम्मद का इस्लाम 712 में भारत आया। उससे पहले यह ज़मीन (वक्फ) हिंदुओं या आदिवासियों, जैन या बौद्धों की थी जो उस धर्म से जुड़े थे।"

English translation:

"You were not an election commissioner; you were a Muslim commissioner. The maximum number of Bangladeshi infiltrators were made voters in Santhal Pargana in Jharkhand during your tenure.

Prophet Muhammad's Islam came to India in 712. This land (Waqf), before that, belonged to Hindus or tribals, Jains or Buddhists associated with that faith."

It is Mander's case that Dubey calling Quraishi "Muslim commissioner" is provocative, communally charged and an effort to delegitimise dissent and promote hostility towards the members of the muslim community.

Similarly, on Sarma's statement, Mander argued that it "unequivocally and unambiguously raises concerns of hate speech against people of a particular community.