The chief of India’s transparency watchdog Central Information Commission has proposed that treason charges should be levied on those who “instigated” Islamic nations that led to an uproar on the derogatory comments on Prophet Mohammed by a BJP spokesperson on a newshour debate.
After the BJP suspended spokesperson Nupur Sharma for her comments on TV, and expelled spokesperson Naveen Jindal for his tweets, Information Commissioner Uday Mahurkar in a tweet said that now that measures were taken on the Prophet controversy, it was time to identify and make a list of those who helped create the uproar.
“Now time for India to make a list of Indian citizens who instigated Islamic nations against India & charge them with treason. Their’s is anti-national activity. Even their property could be attached by enacting a Law (sic),” said the former journalist.
The Nation has taken measures on the Prophet controversy. Now time for India to make a list of Indian citizens who instigated Islamic nations against India & charge them with treason. Their’s is anti-national activity. Even their property could be attached by enacting a Law. pic.twitter.com/1APV0R4aZj
— Uday Mahurkar (@UdayMahurkar) June 8, 2022
While his tweet found some support, several prominent people criticised him for it. Among them was Supreme Court lawyer Prashant Bhushan, who tweeted that with appointments like that of Mahurkar’s the government was systematically destroying statutory and Constitutional bodies.
“This gentleman calls himself a journalist who was para dropped from nowhere into the Central Information commission,” said Bhushan’s tweet.
In reply, Mahurkar said that he does not need advice from someone who has consistently taken “ideological positions against national interest”.
Don’t need advice from 1 one who has consistently taken ideological positions against national interest. As author, former journalist & patriotic citizen I retain right to air my views on national security & history. As IC I be judged by my orders which are without favour or fear https://t.co/cNQ1uG8t3h
— Uday Mahurkar (@UdayMahurkar) June 9, 2022
In another tweet, Mahurkar also said that “Pan-Islamists & Leftists” have questioned his tweet. “Beware, days of 1-sided secularism & Hindu-Muslim unity at Hindu cost are now gone in this new age of national reawakening,” his tweet read.
After the comments created a diplomatic row, apart from the BJP’s disciplinary action against the spokespersons, the ministry of external affairs said that it does not support comments like this made by “fringe” elements. The attachment of property as a punitive action was first mooted by UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath.
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