An FIR has been registered by Kalaburagi police against All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader Waris Pathan, under section 117, 153 (provocation with intent to cause riot), and 153A (promoting enmity between different groups) of the IPC, for his comment '15 crore hain, magar 100 ke upar bhaari hain', ANI reported on Friday, 21 February.
Pathan had made the purported remarks while addressing an anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) rally at Kalaburagi in North Karnataka on 16 February.
“We have to move together. We have to take azaadi (freedom), things that we don't get by asking, we have to take it by force, remember it...(We may be) 15 crore, but are heavy on 100 (crore), remember it,” Pathan can be heard purportedly saying in a video of his speech that has gone viral.
AIMIM to Seek Pathan’s Explanation on Remark
The AIMIM will seek explanation from its leader Waris Pathan over his alleged ‘15 crore Muslims can be heavy on 100 crore’ remark he recently made in Karnataka, a party leader said on Friday.
Talking to reporters, AIMIM’s Maharashtra unit chief and Aurangabad MP Imtiyaz Jaleel said, “Our party does not support the statement made by Waris Pathan. The party will seek an explanation from him over the remarks.”
“If needed, we will come out with a set of dos and don'ts for the party workers to be while giving speech,” he said.
“BJP leaders Anurag Thakur and Yogi Adityanath had also given some hateful statements, but none questioned them about it,” Jaleel added.
‘Misquoted,’ Says Waris Pathan
Pathan on Thursday a statement to the media, saying he has been quoted out of context after being criticised for comments he made.
In a video of the address, Pathan can be seen saying that when the entire Muslim community comes together, it will have a huge impact.
“I hereby wish to state that the media reports on TV channels showing my statement made in the public meeting at Gulbarga five days back have totally quoted me out of context,” Pathan claimed in a media statement on late Thursday evening.
“I wish to reiterate that I can never say anything intentionally or unintentionally that hurts the sentiments of any caste, community or gender. I am a proud Indian and respects the plurality of this country,” he said in the statement, which he posted on Twitter.
While admitting that he has been angry like many Indians that the Centre is neglecting issues concerning CAA, NRC and NPA, the former MLA from Mumbai said, “Neither me nor my party supports anything that creates a divide between people on the basis of caste, creed and religion.”
AIMIM Is B Team of BJP: Thorat
Maharashtra Minister Balasaheb Thorat on Friday said the AIMIM was the "B team" of the BJP.
"AIMIM is the B team of BJP and they are making such statements as they have been unable to divide society on CAA and NRC," Thorat said, while replying to questions on Pathan's reported statement, according to PTI.
BJP Slams Pathan for ‘Hate Speech’
Former Maharashtra Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis on Friday condemned Pathan's reported remarks and asked the latter not to mistake the majority community's tolerance for weakness.
Speaking to reporters in Nagpur, Fadnavis demanded an apology from Pathan and asked the Uddhav Thackeray government to take action.
“We condemn the statement made by Waris Pathan and demand an apology. In case he does not apologise, the state government must take action against him,” he said.
Fadnavis said Pathan should understand that minorities were safe and enjoyed full freedom in India because 100 crore Hindus live in the country.
He said no one would dare utter such a statement in a Muslim-majority nation, adding that the “Hindu community is tolerant but its tolerance should not be mistaken for weakness”.
“Pathan should apologise to the nation and the Hindu community,” he said.
A BJP youth wing leader from Pune on Thursday submitted a complaint application to the police against Pathan for his remarks.
Parismal Deshpande, a BJYM worker, submitted the written application at the Deccan Gymkhana police station, demanding action against Pathan for allegedly promoting enmity between different groups and outraging religious feelings of a community, PTI reported.
“The statement by Pathan promotes violence and create a divide between two communities,” he said.
“Because of such statements, there are possibilities of atmosphere getting vitiated. Hence, he should be booked under IPC sections 153A (promoting enmity between different groups, 295A (outraging religious feelings), and 504 (provoking breach of the peace),” Deshpande said in the complaint, according to PTI.
An officer from the Deccan police station confirmed receiving the application.
Meanwhile, the Maharashtra BJP took to Twitter to slam Pathan, saying, "Waris Pathan, who are you threatening? Shiv Sena led government may tolerate your comments; but BJP and people of Maharashtra will teach you a lesson that your hate-mongering speeches will be shut."
(With inputs from ANI.)
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