The police have taken cognisance of a video of the alleged hate speech that has since gone viral
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI – A case has been filed against rabid Hindutva proponent Yati Narasinghanand Saraswati for making derogatory comments about Islam and the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). The case was filed in Ghaziabad’s Sihani Gate police station on Thursday for his alleged hate speech delivered at Hindi Bhawan in Ghaziabad’s Lohia Nagar on September 29.
The FIR was registered for hurting someone’s religious feelings, based on a complaint by police sub-inspector Trivendra Singh Singh. “We have not arrested him yet,” said Sachin Kumar, SHO of Sihani Gate Police Station, adding the police have taken cognisance of a video of the alleged hate speech that has since gone viral.
“Any action will be taken after the investigation of the alleged video,” media reports quoted him as saying. The speech was given allegedly at an event organised by Major Asharam Vyag Seva Sansthan at the Dasna temple where Yati Narasinghanand is the head priest.
Addressing the gathering the priest said, “If you have to burn effigies on every Dussehra, then burn the effigies of Muhammad (pbuh).”
Narsinghanand, who has several cases against him, was arrested in a hate speech case in 2022.
Known for his controversial remarks, Narasinghanand said last year, “Akhand Hindu Rashtra was the dream of Veer Savarkar and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. This dream should not be limited to Afghanistan; we should strive until Hindutva reaches Makkah and Kaaba.”
He further claimed that a Shiv temple lies beneath the Kaaba, Islam’s holiest site.
Following unrest in Israel last year, the priest declared that he, along with 1,000 supporters, wishes to settle in Israel and contribute to the war effort free of charge.
Narasinghanand remarks typically target Islam and the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). However, he has also made statements against former president Abdul Kalam and Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
