Women Lawyers Forum Writes To Apex Court Over Anti-Muslim Slogans Raised At Jantar Mantar

Delhi High Court Women Lawyers sent a letter to the Supreme Court regarding the alleged Anti-Muslim slogans raised during a protest at Jantar Mantar. The protest 'Bharat Jodo Andolan' was reportedly organised by the advocate and former BJP leader of Delhi, Ashwini Upadhyay.

The Women Lawyers Forum wrote a letter to the Supreme Court regarding the Anti-Muslim slogan raised at Jantar Mantar in a protest.

The letter read, "These slogans whipping up hatred against the Muslims is not protected speech under the Indian Constitution, and is prima facie hate speech. The speeches made at the rally must not be confused with the right to freedom of dissenting or critical speech."

"The speeches at the rally were directly and explicitly invoking violence against a religious community, and the audience was charged and espousing violence. In Rwanda, the systematic hate speech against the ethnic minority, Tutsis, enabled the 1994 Genocide."

Bharat Jodo Andolan's media in-charge told the Hindu that the protest was held against colonial laws and demanding to abolish 222 British laws. She added that they have seen the video of the protest but have no idea who they are. She also asserted that the police should take strict action against the persons who raised the slogans.

Ashwini Upadhyay denied any involvement in the anti-Muslim slogan-shouting incident. Upadhyay added that the police must examine the video and bring the guilty to justice. Upadhyay also said that he has no idea who the people in the video are. He claimed to have not seen them.

Deepak Yadav, the deputy commissioner of Police (New Delhi), said that they have received a video and are examining it. They have registered a case under relevant sections of the law and an investigation is in progress. The videographic evidence shows a group of people shouting inflammatory slogans. They are also threatening Muslims during the protest at Jantar Mantar.

The letter read, "These slogans whipping up hatred against the Muslims is not protected speech under the Indian Constitution, and is prima facie hate speech. The speeches made at the rally must not be confused with the right to freedom of dissenting or critical speech. The speeches at the rally were directly and explicitly invoking violence against a religious community, and the audience was charged and espousing violence. In Rwanda, the systematic hate speech against the ethnic minority, Tutsis, enabled the 1994 Genocide."

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