The Mumbai police have registered a case at Azad Maidan police station against 50 odd people for chanting slogans in support of the radical Islamist, Sharjeel Imam at the ‘Mumbai Pride Solidarity Gathering’ held on Saturday.
Mumbai: FIR registered against activist Urvashi Chudawala&50 others under IPC sec 124A(Sedition), 153B, 505, 34 at Azad Maidan police station in connection with raising of slogans in support of Sharjeel Imam at ‘Mumbai Pride Solidarity Gathering’ at Azad Maidan on Feb 1. Probe on https://t.co/Ce00AVL0rl
— ANI (@ANI) February 3, 2020
The police have filed charges under IPC Sections 153 B (Imputations assertions prejudicial to National Integrity), 124 A (Sedition) and 505 (statements conducing public mischief). A complaint was filed by Kirit Somaiya, a former BJP MP, on 2nd February.
The FIR comes at the backdrop of a video from the gathering that went viral on social media wherein “Sharjeel tere sapno ko manzil tak pahunchayenge,” was chanted by a group of people. One of the prime accused in the case has been identified as activist Urvashi Chudawala.
the Queer Pride March event also saw participants chanting slogans of ‘Azaadi’ against the CAA, NRC and NPR. One of the placards also demanded independence of Kashmir, along with criticising CAA and NRC.
“Sharjeel Tere Sapno Ko Manjil Tak Pahuchayenge”.
I have zero sympathy for these pride flag holder. They are anti-nationals. They are sloganeering to fulfill the breaking-India dreams of radical Sharjeel Imam.
Anyone who stands with these intellectual terr@rits is a shame. pic.twitter.com/xAv8WaZhAN
— Yosha? (@Blackdrug_) February 1, 2020
Urvashi is pursuing her MA degree in media and culture at Tata Institute of Social Science (TISS). The police also scrutinized her social media posts before filing the case. She was called for questioning on two occasions but did not turn up for the preliminary inquiry. It has now been reported that she has gone underground. Reports say that her Facebook page had several posts in support for Sharjeel, but now it has been deactivated.
#SharjeelImam के ‘सपनों को मंजिल’ तक पहुंचाने वाली #UrvashiChudawala हुई अंडरग्राउंड@MumbaiPolice #FacebookPage https://t.co/ZCFvuHrbZj
— Zee News Hindi (@ZeeNewsHindi) February 4, 2020
The police have, however, made it clear that no case has been filed against the organizers of the event but only against those involved in the anti-national sloganeering. Earlier, an Anti-CAA protestor was booked by the Mumbai police for carrying a placard that read “Free Kashmir.”
It is important to mention that the Mumbai police had initially denied permission to organise LGBTQ pride parade. When the controversial video surfaced, the organizers were quick to disassociate themselves from those trying to undermine the integrity of India.
It is notable here that radical Islamist and JNU student Sharjeel Imam has been arrested by the Delhi police after videos of his violence-inciting hate speech calling for the partitioning of Assam and the North East from India went viral.
