JOIN USHer loose tongue set entire nation on fire: Supreme Court slams Nupur Sharma over Prophet Mohammed remarks
The Supreme Court on Friday slammed suspended BJP leader Nupur Sharma over her remarks on Prophet Mohammed saying that she has "threatened the security of the nation" and is "single-handedly responsible for what is happening in the country".
The apex court also declined to consider a plea by Nupur to club multiple FIRs lodged against her over her remarks on Prophet Mohammed in a TV channel debate.
A bench with Justice Surya Kant and Justice J B Pardiwala said that Nupur's "loose tongue has set the entire country on fire".
"Her outburst is responsible for the unfortunate incident at Udaipur, related to the brutal killing of a tailor. Our conscience is not satisfied," the bench said and rejected her plea, forcing her counsel to withdraw the petition to allow her to pursue an alternate remedy.
Terming her comments as "disturbing", the bench asked, "What is her business to make these remarks?"
"What is the business of the TV channel to discuss the matter which is sub-judice, except to promote an agenda?" the court asked, as senior advocate Maninder Singh, appearing for Nupur, sought clubbing of the FIRs as done earlier in Arnab Goswami's case.
Singh submitted that she has already apologised for her remarks and withdrew the comments. To this, the bench expressed anguish and said, "She should have gone to the TV and apologised to the nation."
The court further pointed out: "She was too late to withdraw (the remarks)... and she withdrew it conditionally, saying if sentiments were hurt."
On her complaint, a person was arrested but she has not yet been touched by the Delhi Police despite multiple FIRs, the bench further noted.
Singh said there was a provocation from the other debater. "If you are a spokesperson of a party, it is not a licence to say things like this," the bench said, adding, "If there is a misuse of the debate, the first thing she should have done was to file an FIR against the anchor."
"Sometimes people think that they have backing and they can say anything," the bench added.
BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma was suspended from the party after her remarks in the TV debate on May 27 triggered international reactions and massive protests across the country. She subsequently faced multiple FIRs lodged at various places, including Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata.