Yati Narsinghanand Faces Hate Speech Allegations After Controversial Comments

Priest's Remarks Spark Outrage and Protests Across Multiple States

Yati Narsinghanand, the chief priest of the Dasna Temple in Ghaziabad, is once again at the center of controversy. This time, his inflammatory remarks against Prophet Muhammad during an event held at Hindi Bhavan, Ghaziabad, on September 29, have triggered widespread public outrage. The comments, which rapidly spread on social media, led to protests and clashes with the police in various states.

Public Response and Police Action

Following the emergence of Narsinghanand's comments online, a sizable crowd gathered outside the Dasna Devi Temple on Friday night. In response to the unrest, local police intervened to disperse the crowd and have since heightened security measures around the temple premises.

Legal Proceedings Against Narsinghanand

Multiple police complaints have been lodged against Narsinghanand across several states. Asaduddin Owaisi, president of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (AIMIM), met with Hyderabad's police commissioner, C.V. Anand, on Saturday, advocating for a criminal case against the priest. Subsequently, the Telangana police registered a First Information Report (FIR) against him, and an additional FIR was filed in Amravati, Maharashtra.

Violence in Maharashtra

In Amravati, violent protests erupted on Friday night, spurred by Narsinghanand's remarks. The unrest resulted in injuries to 21 police officers and damage to 10 police vehicles due to stone pelting. The FIR filed against Narsinghanand includes charges under several sections, including:

• Section 299: Deliberate and malicious acts intended to insult religious sentiments.

• Section 302: Intentional utterance of words that wound the religious feelings of others.

• Section 197: Actions that undermine national integration.

Nature of the Remarks

Reports indicate that Narsinghanand made his controversial comments during an event at the Hindi Bhavan in Ghaziabad on September 29. Following the incident, Owaisi, along with various prominent Muslim organizations, including Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind and Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH), have called for Narsinghanand's bail to be revoked and for his immediate arrest.