Muslim body asks SC to intervene on hate speeches

ALIGARH: An umbrella body of Muslim organisations has urged the Supreme Court to take suo motu notice of the recent cases of alleged hate speeches by some Sangh Parivar leaders.

"The SC should step in," All India Muslim Majlis-e- Mushawarat President Zafarul Islam Khan said alleging that "a dangerous polarisation of society is gaining momentum by provocative hate-mongering by leaders like Pravin Togadia, Giriraj Singh and Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje and it needs to be checked in national interest".

In a statement released here last evening, Khan said, "Any person, who plays with venom irrespective of his caste, creed or stature should be charged with anti-national activities as they are wrecking havoc with the country's peace and unity".

He further alleged that the Election Commission was "soft-pedalling these incidents" and had developed "cold feet" on the matter.

Khan said that by removing the ban on BJP leader Amit Shah the commission has sent a wrong signal to hate-mongers.