(With inputs from Asrar.)
Lucknow University professor Madri Kakoti, who is also a social media influencer by the name of Dr Medusa, and Bhojpuri folk singer Neha Singh Rathore have been booked for 'sedition' in Uttar Pradesh for allegedly making objectionable remarks on social media in connection with the 22 April terror attack in Pahalgam.
They have been booked in two separate First Information Reports (FIRs).
In a conversation with The Quint, Rathore said that she did nothing wrong by asking questions to the government.
"If one wants to ask questions at a time like this, who must one ask?What have I done? I have only asked questions," Rathore said.
"I am under a lot of stress. For the last two days, the BJP's IT cell has been trending that I am a traitor. And how bad is it that 27-28 people have been killed, and no one is taking responsibility for it," she added.
What FIR Against Rathore Says:
The FIR against Rathore was filed at Hazratganj police station by a complainant identified as Abhay Pratap Singh. In his complaint, Singh claimed that Rathore's posts could incite communal tensions and were being shared on platforms linked to Pakistani outlets. She has been charged under Section 152 (acts endangering sovereignty, unity and integrity of India) of the the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), as well as sections of the Information Technology Act, 2000.
The FIR mentioned three tweets by Rathore and one by a Pakistani handle.
The FIR amentioned a tweet by a handle called PTI_Promotion, apparently linked to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, that shared a video of Rathore in which she is seen alleging that the BJP was dividing India on religious lines. A few other videos of Rathore also feature on the handle.
'Which Pak Handle Shared My Video During Previous FIRs?'
Talking about the FIR, Rathore said that she found out about it from social media.
"I found out through social media that an FIR has been filed and charges of sedition have been added. An FIR has been registered under 11 sections. I am both laughing and feeling sad. What is going on? Instead of bringing the heads of the terrorists, an FIR is being filed against me," Rathore said.
"The Pahalgam incident is very sensitive. My simple question is, what was the security arrangement there? I am asking the Prime Minister and the Home Minister the same question. What was the security arrangement? If there was none, then why were we called? Why were so many people killed? How did the terrorists manage to get in?" she added.
Meanwhile, her husband, Himanshu Singh, told The Quint that they did not receive any official information through phone or any other means.
"All the information we have received is through social media. We even got a copy of the FIR via social media. The police have not contacted us officially," he said.
Asked if the FIR was filed because the video was shared on a Pakistani handle, Rathore called it an 'excuse', stating that this wan't the first time she was facing action from the government for her content.
"This is all an excuse. When I sang 'Kya Ba' in Uttar Pradesh, which Pakistani Twitter handle shared it? This is not the case at all. It's just an excuse. The main point is to intimidate me, divert attention from the issues, and scare me."
Rathore further said that she cannot have control on wht gets shared on social media accounts in other countries.
"You might remember that last time, a Pakistani girl dancing to the song 'Dil Ye Pukare' was trending a lot in India. At that time, people were saying that Lata Mangeshkar’s song was trending. Anything can trend on social media, anywhere. Anyone from any country can go viral. I have no control over this."
"There are millions of users on social media. Anyone can share my video. How can I control this?"
When asked about her next steps, she said: "I am looking for a lawyer. We are very simple people. I already have a similar case running in MP, for which I am going through the courts. And now another FIR has been filed. All my energy is going into finding a lawyer. How will I work?" she asked.
On Monday too, Rathore had ahsred a video of responding to the case.
"The government wants to divert attention by filing an FIR against me. This is not so difficult to understand. If you have the guts, go get the heads of those terrorists. You don't need to put the blame of your failure on me," she said.
"Their answer to every question is sending a notice, taking away our jobs, filing FIRs, and getting us abused, scaring us, and humiliating us. If you call this politics, then what is dictatorship?" Rathore further asked.
What FIR Against Medusa Says
An FIR was registered at Hasanganj police station in Lucknow against Kakoti based on a complaint filed by Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) leader Jatin Shukla.
The complaint accused Kakoti of making posts that allegedly undermine India’s unity, integrity, and sovereignty.
"Dr Madri Kakoti, Assistant Professor in the Department of Linguistics at Lucknow University, has been continuously attacking India's unity, integrity, and sovereignty. She has been posting content from her X handle (@ms_medusssa). Dr Kakoti’s posts pose a threat to public order in India. It appears that her intention is to incite riots in the country. Her posts are also being shared on Pakistani media channels such as @PTI_Promotion. Dr Kakoti frequently uses hateful and objectionable terms like "saffron terrorists" on her social media platforms," the FIR claimed.
Since the attacks, Medusa has shared several video posts that question alleged atrocities against Kashmiris after the Pahalgam attack and also demanded the resignation of Home Minister Amit Shah.
In another tweet, Dr. Medusa puts out that terrorism not only includes killing based on religion, but also includes targeted acts when a person is killed without a legal trial, when people are denied jobs based on their religion and when their houses are bulldozed owing to their religion.
'Hurt By Questions About My Patriotism': Dr Medusa
Taking to X, Kakoti said thatevery post has only pushed for unity.
"The words "terrorist" and "militants" used in my tweets and videos refer solely to the terrorists supported and sponsored by Pakistan, who brutally killed Indians in Pahalgam after asking their religion. Such terrorists and Pakistan-sponsored attacks deserve every condemnation. In these challenging circumstances, the most important thing for all of us is to remain united for India's identity and integrity. Every tweet and every video of mine repeatedly emphasises this, and will continue to do so," she said.
"I am deeply saddened that, despite being a teacher, I couldn't make my intent clear. Even with a degree in linguistics, my language failed to be clear enough for my message to reach my fellow countrymen. The message was one of unity and peace in the country," she said.
She furthet expressed regret over het patriotism being questioned.
"I never imagined that, while fulfilling my duties as outlined by the Constitution, I would be linked to Pakistan. This has hurt the soul of both myself and my university, tarnishing our image. My patriotism has been questioned, and I regret that the meaning of my words has been distorted and caused you distress," she said.
The terror attack in Pahalgam’s Baisaran meadow on 22 April led to the death of at least 26 people and injured 17 others. According to police reports, the assailants targeted tourists after asking their names to determine their religion. Most of the victims were Hindu.