Nupur Sharma's "loose tongue set the entire country on fire": Indian Supreme Court
India's Supreme Court today came down heavily on suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma for her deplorable comments against Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), saying her "loose tongue" has "set the entire country on fire" and that she is "single-handedly responsible for what is happening in the country".
Refusing to entertain Sharma's plea for clubbing of FIRs lodged against her in various parts of India for the remark, a vacation bench of Justices Surya Kant and J B Pardiwala held that the comment was made either for cheap publicity, political agenda or some nefarious activities.
"She actually has a loose tongue and has made all kinds of irresponsible statements on TV and set the entire country on fire. Yet, she claims to be a lawyer of 10 years standing... She should have immediately apologised for her comments to the whole country," the top court said.
Nupur Sharma's remark against Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) during a TV debate sparked outrage and protests across India and drew sharp reactions from many Muslim countries. BJP subsequently suspended her from the party.
"These remarks are very disturbing and smack of arrogance. What is her business to make such remarks? These remarks have led to unfortunate incidents in the country...These people are not religious. They do not have respect for other religions. These remarks were made for cheap publicity or political agenda or some other nefarious activities," the bench said.
"She has a threat or she has become a security threat? The way she has ignited emotions across the country… this lady is single-handedly responsible for what is happening in the country," the bench said when Sharma's lawyer Maninder Singh pointed out that she was facing threats to life.
After the apex court's indictment of Nupur Sharma, main opposition Congress party said the ruling BJP should hang its head in shame, our New Delhi correspondent reports.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said in a statement that the top court has made crucial and far-reaching observations and strengthened the party's resolve to fight "destructively divisive ideologies".
The court's observations against Nupur Sharma came against the backdrop of the brutal murder of a tailor in Udaipur town of Rajasthan state by two men who had posted videos online, claiming that they were avenging "an insult to Islam".
Senior Advocate Maninder Singh, appearing for Nupur Sharma, said she had indeed apologised for her remarks and there are several judgments that say there cannot be two FIRs for the same incident.
The bench said "her apology came too late and that too conditionally, saying if religious sentiments are hurt and so on. She should have been on TV immediately and apologized to the nation."
The court said her petition smacks of arrogance. "When an FIR is registered and you are not arrested, this shows your clout. She thinks she has the power to back up and goes on to make irresponsible statements," the bench said.
Maninder Singh said Nupur Sharma was a spokesperson of a political party and her unintentional comments were in relation to a debate.
"If you are a spokesperson of a party, it is not a license to say things like this," the bench said, adding, "if there was a misuse of the debate, the first thing she should have done was to file an FIR against the (TV) anchor."
Singh said she had reacted to the debate initiated by other debators and pointed to the transcript of the debate. He said there were serious debates on the issue within the same community and Nupur Sharma's remarks were made in that context only.
The bench said, "What was the TV debate for? Was it to fan an agenda and why did they choose a sub-judice topic? What is the business of the TV channel to discuss the matter which is sub-judice, except to promote an agenda?"
Justice Kant said, "Yes. In a democracy everyone has the right to speak. In a democracy grass has the right to grow and donkeys have the right to eat."
Singh said Nupur Sharma joined the investigation being conducted by the Delhi Police and not running away, and multiple FIRs are lodged against her in Mumbai, Hyderabad, Nagpur to Jammu and Kashmir for the same cause of action.
The bench said, "What has happened in the investigation so far? What has Delhi Police done so far? Don't make us open our mouths. They must have put a red carpet for you."
Observing that in this case a special treatment was meted out to an individual, the bench said when an FIR is registered against someone, he/she is arrested but Nupur Sharma was not arrested.
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