The Mumbai Police, on Wednesday, registered a case against two websites for allegedly publishing “objectionable articles” on Savitribai Phule, a 19th century social reformer. As per the news agency PTI, the First Information Report (FIR) was registered against Indic Tales and Hindu Post under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including 500 (punishment for defamation). These articles have also created a debate on the internet with many slamming the authors for the references and insinuations against the iconic social reformer.
Maharashtra CM Shinde, on Wednesday, directed officials to verify the content and take action accordingly. The CM said that those who resort to writing objectionable content against icons will not be spared, reported PTI.
The Chief Minister's Office in a statement said several social and political organisations have protested against an objectionable article against Savitribai Phule.
"Taking cognisance of this, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has directed officials to verify the article on Indic Tales website and take action accordingly," the statement said.
The CM said while writing about icons, utmost care needs to be taken with a detailed study of them so that it does not hurt anyone's sentiments.
Senior leaders of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), including Ajit Pawar, Jayant Patil, Sunil Tatkare and Chhagan Bhujbal, along with scores of party workers, on Wednesday, staged a protest outside the Mumbai police commissioner's office. They demanded action against the two websites for alleged objectionable articles.
A letter signed by Pawar, Patil and Bhujbal to the city police chief claimed that Indic Tales and Hindu Post websites have posted objectionable articles against Phule.
According to IANS, a two-page memorandum said that a person claiming to be 'Bharadwaj' had made objectionable remarks against Savitribai (1831-1897) – considered the pioneer of women's education from the mid-1850s – who is revered in the state and country.
"The comments are so low that I can't mention them and feel embarrassed even to talk about it. We have requested the police to immediately book the two websites, the authors and also remove the article from all media platforms," an irate Pawar said during the NCP’s meeting with Mumbai Commissioner of Police Vivek Phansalkar.
Savitribai Phule was a social reformer and educationist, pioneered the Modern education system in India which was established in the Bombay Presidency area of British India modern-day Maharashtra.