‘My family members have put their lives at stake in the army more than the total number of children of BJP leaders combined. …but today BJP's IT cell is calling me a traitor,’ says prominent Bhojpuri singer
NEW DELHI — A sedition case was registered against Bhojpuri folk singer Neha Singh Rathore in Uttar Pradesh’s capital city of Lucknow on Monday. The singer was booked at the behest of a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) supporter, Abhay Pratap Singh, who alleged that the singer’s social media posts could harm the country’s unity following the Pahalgam tragedy.
The complaint, filed at Hazratganj police station, accused Rathore of posting provocative messages on social media targeting a community, reports reaching here said.
Additionally, the folk singer has come in for incessant trolling by social media users affiliated with the Hindutva proponents, especially the saffron party’s IT cell. Undeterred by the trolls, the folk singer asked, “Is asking questions from the prime minister an act of treason?
In her post in Hindi on her X handle, Rathore denounced Hindutva elements who have called her a traitor. “My family members have put their lives at stake in the army more than the total number of children of BJP leaders combined. …but today BJP’s IT cell is calling me a traitor because I ask questions without any fear. Is asking questions from the Prime Minister treason?” she asked.
Meanwhile, acting swiftly on the BJP supporter Abhay Pratap Singh’s complaint, police registered a case against Rathore under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including promoting sectarian animosity, disturbing public tranquillity, and endangering the sovereignty, unity, and integrity of India. Authorities said she was also booked under the Information Technology Act.
Singh told a news agency that “In this situation, singer and poetess Neha Singh Rathore, using her Twitter (now X) handle @nehafolksinger made some objectionable posts that can adversely affect the national integrity and made repeated efforts to incite one community against another based on religion.”
He added that Rathore’s post on the terror attack in Pahalgam was widely disseminated by Pakistani media outlets.
Section 152 of the new criminal code deals with acts that jeopardise the nation’s sovereignty, unity, and integrity, even though BNS does not specifically mention sedition, as it was covered by Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code.
Another BJP supporter, Advocate Amita Sachdeva, has complained to the Cyber Crime South Division, Delhi, against Rathore. In her bio on the X, Amita mentions Advocate-on-Record (AOR)-Supreme Court of India-MBA Finance-Will pursue legal action against anyone who insults Sanatan Dharma. Amita said in her complaint that Rathore’s post concerning the Pahalgam attack was amplified by the Pakistani media.
“With the divine blessings of Bhagwan Shri Krishna, I have formally lodged a complaint with the Cyber Crime South Division, Delhi, against Ms. Neha Singh Rathore (@nehafolksinger) for her suspected role in propagating anti-Bharat sentiments. Her post concerning the Pahalgam terrorist attack was amplified by a Pakistani Media (@PtiPromo), raising alarming concerns over potential threats to India’s national security,” Amita said in her post.
“I am resolute in my commitment to pursue this matter lawfully and persistently until justice is delivered. #NationalSecurity #JusticeForBharat I sincerely thank Sr. Makarand D. Adkar Ji (@AdkarMakarand), Adv. Vikram Kumar, and Adv. Yadavendra Saxena & Adv. Shantanu M. Adkar for their invaluable support and guidance. @SanatanPrabhat @OpIndia_com,” the post added.
