Yati Narsinghanand, others booked for hate speech: Cops
NEW DELHI: Controversial priest Yati Narsinghanand was booked along with other speakers on Sunday for alleged hate speeches made at a “Hindu Mahapanchayat” that “50 per cent of Hindus will convert” in 20 years if a Muslim becomes the prime minister of the country.
The Delhi Police have also registered an FIR against two Twitter handles of a journalist and a newsportal for allegedly inciting hatred between communities after they claimed manhandling of scribes during the event, officials said.
Police said they had denied permission for the event but the organisers still went ahead with the “Mahapanchayat Sabha” and around 700-800 people were present at the venue.
Three FIRs have been lodged in connection with the event, police said, adding that legal action is being taken against those spreading rumours and misinformation using various platforms, including through social media.
All cases are being investigated and no arrests have been made yet, police said.
In a statement, the Delhi Police said a request letter seeking permission for organising the event was received in North-West district from Preet Singh, president, Save India Foundation. Singh is a resident of outer Delhi’s Mangolpuri.
“The request was denied on the ground that the organiser had no permission from the land-owning agency -- Delhi Development Authority -- for organising this sabha at the Burari ground. Despite the denial by Delhi Police, on Sunday, organiser Preet Singh reached the Burari ground with his supporters in the morning and started organising the Hindu Mahapanchayat Sabha. Around 700-800 people gathered at the event place and the invitees of the organiser started delivering speeches from the stage,” the police statement said.
A police team reached the venue of the event. Some of the speakers, including Yati Narsinghanand Saraswati, the head priest of the Dasna Devi temple, and Suresh Chauhanke, chief editor of Sudarshan News, uttered words promoting disharmony, feelings of enmity, hatred or ill-will between two communities.