New Delhi (Agency): The Supreme Court of India has been presented with a new plea relating to several events in Gurugram. These events include calls for a boycott of Muslims and shutting down of mosques. The plea seeks legal action against those who incited religious discord.
Kapil Sibal, a senior advocate, brought this matter to the attention of the Supreme Court on Monday. He spoke before a bench led by the Chief Justice of India, DY Chandrachud. In his presentation, Mr. Sibal pointed out incidents in Gurugram. In one such incident, shopkeepers were warned that if they employed any member from a minority community, they would be labeled as ‘gaddars’ or “traitors.”
The petition mentions that following the Nuh violence, over 27 rallies were held across different Indian states. During these rallies, there were clear hate speeches. These speeches encouraged harm to, and even the killing of, Muslims. There were also calls for social and economic boycotts of the Muslim community. Specifically, these rallies occurred between August 1 and August 7.
Along with the plea, evidence in the form of transcripts and videos was also provided. One of the major concerns highlighted was the warning given to residents and shop owners. They were told that their businesses would face boycotts if they hired or continued employing Muslim individuals past a two-day period. Notably, these rallies were held in areas like Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh.
The plea argues that such rallies have an impact beyond just the immediate areas. It suggests that they can cause widespread religious disharmony and potentially lead to large-scale violence throughout the nation. Given the volatile situation in the areas mentioned, there’s a very real fear of communal persecution. The plea states that this situation urgently needs the Supreme Court’s attention.
In practical terms, the application is asking for clear directions. It wants the police commissioners and directors-general of police from various states, including Delhi, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and Haryana, to take proper measures. The goal is to ensure that such rallies, where hate speeches are a common theme, are not permitted.
Moreover, if these authorities fail to halt these kinds of protests, they should be required to explain the steps they’ve taken. Lastly, the plea also calls for firm action against police officials who were present at these rallies but did not take measures to prevent the spreading of hate speech.
