A petition filed in the Allahabad High Court seeking to restrain Yati Narsinghanand from making comments against Prophet Muhammad and the Quran. The plea also requests the removal of his recent “hate speech” from social media, where he purportedly made offensive remarks regarding Islam and the Prophet. This legal action aims to address concerns over the potential spread of hate and misinformation.
Prayagraj: A petition has been submitted to the Allahabad High Court requesting that Yati Narsinghanand, the priest of Ghaziabad’s Dasna Devi temple, be restrained from making statements against Prophet Muhammad and the Holy Quran.
The petition, filed by two individuals from Mumbai Mohammad Yusuf and Zakir Husain Mustafa Shaikh also seeks the removal of Narsinghanand’s recent “hate speech” from social media, where he allegedly made offensive comments about Islam and the Prophet.
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The plea argues that if immediate action is not taken against Yati Narsinghanand, who is reportedly fostering a dangerous atmosphere globally, it could jeopardize the stability of both the country’s and the state’s systems.
The petition states,
“From giving disputed religious statements over social media and print media, if any has been given, may kindly be deleted from the social media or electronic media.”
The petitioners have called on the Uttar Pradesh government to take legal action against him, alleging that his actions are anti-national.
Narsinghanand has a history of being charged with hate speech. He arrested on January 16, 2022, for allegedly making a hate speech against Muslims during a Dharam Sansad event in Haridwar.
While a magistrate court denied his bail request, a sessions court granted him bail on February 7, 2022. Additionally, he faced charges for making derogatory comments about women and was released on bail in that case as well.
In 2023, the Supreme Court issued a notice to Narsinghanand regarding a contempt of court petition filed by activist Shachi Nelli, stemming from his disparaging remarks about the court.
Recently, the Thane Police reportedly charged Narsinghanand for an alleged hate speech delivered at Hindi Bhawan in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, on September 29 of this year.
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The Allahabad High Court’s decision on this matter will be crucial in determining how religious speech is regulated in India, particularly concerning statements that may be deemed offensive to particular communities. As the court prepares to hear the case, the broader implications for freedom of expression and communal harmony remain a significant focus of public interest.
The plea highlights the ongoing tensions surrounding religious discourse in India, highlighting the delicate balance between protecting individual rights and maintaining societal peace.