New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday refused to entertain a PIL seeking a direction to censor all future social media posts by Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut as she has made several allegations against the Sikh community. Derogatory statements were made, especially in relation to the protest against agricultural laws by farmers.
The petition was filed by advocate Charanjit Singh Chanderpal, who appeared in person in the court.
Justice D.Y. Chandrachud and Bela M. Trivedi told Chandrapal that the court respected his sensitivity, but the more she publicized her statements on social media, the more he would help their cause.
As the petitioner sought to club the FIRs registered against him in several states for allegedly making profane statements against the Sikh community at the Mumbai Police Station, the bench observed that it was not possible for a third person to intervene, as The matter is between him and the state government.
However, Chanderpal pressed that she had made several sacrilegious statements against Sikh community and some action must be taken against her. At this, the bench reiterated that by giving her publicity, the petitioner is doing a disservice to his cause.
“There are two ways, ignore… there is also remedy under law,” the bench said, adding that for every wrong there is a remedy and the petitioner can avail the remedy available under the criminal law.
The petition has demanded that all social media platforms be directed to censor, modify or remove Kangana’s post if it causes law and order problems in India.
It has been said in the petition that Kangana has said these things on a public platform of social media like Instagram. “This post on Instagram supports the 1984 genocide, in a nutshell, and ‘Sikh farmers as Khalistani terrorists,’ means that Sikhs should be treated as lower caste-like unwanted mosquitoes and they should be treated like Mrs. Indira Gandhi. Like Guru is needed when Anant Guru is Sikh Guru Granth Sahibji,” the petition said.
The plea said that such statements develop a feeling of racial discrimination, hatred on the basis of different religions and may lead to very heated debates on social media and may even lead to riots.
“The comments are not only derogatory and blasphemous but also intended to incite riots, hurt religious sentiments, they are defamatory as well as portray Sikhs in a completely anti-national manner. It also shows the innocent killing of Sikhs. The remark is completely against the unity of our country and the actress deserves a severe punishment in law. She cannot be dismissed or condoned,” added the petition filed through advocate Anil Kumar.
The plea has also sought a direction to transfer all FIRs on the derogatory remarks allegedly made by Kangana on Sikhs to Mumbai’s Khar police station.