The national president of Hindu Sena, Vishnu Gupta, has filed a counter-appeal in the Supreme Court in the Haridwar Hate Speech Case. The appeal demands intervention in a PIL filed in the apex court seeking criminal action against the speakers at the Dharam Sansad event in Haridwar.
In the appeal, Gupta demands that Muslim leaders should be arrested for hate speech, instead. In his appeal, he says that the speeches at Dharam Sansad were made in response to attacks on Hindu culture and cannot be called "hate speech".
Vishnu Gupta has also demanded that AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi and other Muslim leaders like Waris Pathan, Tauqeer Raza, Sajid Rashidi, Amanatullah Khan, be arrested, for giving hate speeches, reported Live Law.
Another organisation, the Hindu Front for Justice also demanded that hate speeches by Muslims should also be examined and cited 25 instances of hate speeches by Muslim leaders.
"Efforts are being made to scandalise the spiritual leaders of Hindus... The petitioner belongs to the Muslim community and is not supposed to raise objections against affairs or activities related to Hindu Dharm Sansad (sic)," read the Hindu Sena's plea. (as quoted by NDTV)
The petition, filed by journalist Qurban Ali and former Patna High Court judge and senior advocate Anjana Prakash, has sought direction from the SC for an "independent, credible and impartial investigation" by an SIT into the incidents of hate speeches against the Muslim community.
The petition will be heard by a bench comprising Chief Justice N V Ramana and justices Surya Kant and Hima Kohli, PTI reported.
On December 17, a 'Dharam Sansad' event in Haridwar saw a series of hate speeches being made targeting Muslims and calling for violence and assassination, triggering a nationwide outrage.