Delhi: FIR Against VHP Over 'Hate Speech' Event Where BJP MP Called For 'Boycotting' A Community

It was at the same event where Delhi BJP MP Parvesh Verma allegedly called for a total boycott of a community, triggering controversy.

An FIR has been lodged against the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and the other organisers of an event in Delhi's Dilshad Garden where some speakers allegedly gave hate speeches, Delhi Police said on Monday, news agency PTI reported. It was at the same event where Delhi BJP MP Parvesh Verma allegedly called for a total boycott of a community, triggering controversy.

"An FIR has been registered against the organisers under section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for not taking permission from police," Deputy Commissioner of Police (Shahdara) R Sathiyasundaram told PTI.

Reacting to the development, VHP rubbished the claim as "laughable" and said that police personnel were deployed at the event.

"Let alone permission, we fixed the venue at Ramleela Ground in Dilshad Garden after suggestion and recommendation by senior police officers. We earlier had planned to hold the gathering near Manish's house but on the request of police changed it to Ramlila Maidan," Bansal claimed, PTI quoted him as saying. 

Verma made the remarks pn Sunday while protesting the killing of a 19-year-old Hindu youth in northeast Delhi.

In a purported video of the event that has gone viral, Verma could be heard saying, "Wherever you find them, there is only one way to straighten them out -- total boycott. Do you agree with me?"

Verma could be seen in the purported video seeking an answer from the crowd about his call for "total boycott" of the community and asking them to raise their hands if they agreed with him.

"We will not buy anything from their shops or pay them any wages. This is the only treatment for them," he is heard saying in the video.

Verma, however, said he did not refer to any particular community in his address.  "I did not name any community. I just said those involved in the killing of Hindus need to be boycotted," the BJP MP later told PTI.

Hyderabad MP and All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi shared a video clip of the speech. He accused the BJP of "starting a war against Muslims" and criticised Home Minister Amit Shah and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for their "silence."

"What is the value of the Constitution if an MP from the ruling party can do this in the national capital?" he said.

Manish (19) was stabbed to death in Sundar Nagri earlier this month. Police have arrested all of the suspects in the case, including Aalam, Bilal, and Faizan, and claimed they killed the youth due to an old rivalry.

Manish's killing was captured on CCTV camera. In the footage, three youths are seen walking down a lane and accosting him.

The footage further shows one of the three grabbing Manish by his collar and slapping him. The other two also join in, and start stabbing Manish repeatedly.

(With Inputs From PTI)