Editor's Pick: Booked for hate speech

Days after anger in the Gulf region forced the ruling BJP to suspend its spokesperson Nupur Sharma and expel its Delhi unit media head Naveen Kumar for making controversial comments about Prophet Mohammad, the Delhi Police booked 31 people for hurting religious sentiments and spreading misinformation. Two FIRs have been filed in the case: the first is based on Mr. Kumar’s comments and the second names Ms. Sharma and others, including Dasna Devi temple priest Yati Narsinghanand, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, and journalist Saba Naqvi. Mr. Owaisi reacted sharply to the development, tweeting that the police were suffering from “both sideism”. The persons were booked for “spreading hate, inciting groups and disturbing public tranquility,” the DGP said. AIMIM supporters protested the move. In West Bengal, where there are protests against Ms. Sharma’s comments, there is a case pending against her. The government on Sunday faced a diplomatic storm over the comments, from the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council, Iran, the Maldives, Pakistan and others. Leaders in the Gulf region summoned Ambassadors, expressed their unhappiness and worry about “extremism and hatred”, and some demanded a public apology. The government’s clarification and decision to suspend and expel the two BJP members, respectively, was welcome, but delayed, pointed out this editorial. The Government could have “avoided the entire controversy if it had acted according to the law, and immediately engaged with the issue before it snowballed into an international incident,” it said. The reason the government was forced to act was not the protests that had flared up in Kanpur against the remarks, but diplomatic embarrassment and the importance of the Gulf region. Read here about why the Gulf region matters to India. The incident has also led to internal churn within the BJP with some members wondering why some are rewarded for making controversial remarks while others are penalised, wrote Nistula here. As the Delhi Police’s action comes against the backdrop of these developments, it is the pick of the day. Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Head over to our newsletter subscription page to sign up for Editor‘s Pick and more. Click here The Hindu’s Editorials Messy battle: On the ongoing tug of war over Delhi’s status Ties reset: On India-Iran relations The Hindu’s Daily Quiz The use of coal as fuel in industrial, domestic units will be banned in the National Capital Region from ______. January 2023 January 2024 November 2022 April 2023 To find out the answer and play the full quiz, click here [logo] Editor's Pick 10 JUNE 2022 [The Hindu logo] In the Editor's Pick newsletter, The Hindu explains why a story was important enough to be carried on the front page of today's edition of our newspaper. [Arrow]( [Open in browser]( [Mail icon]( [More newsletters]( Booked for hate speech Days after anger in the Gulf region forced the ruling BJP to suspend its spokesperson Nupur Sharma and expel its Delhi unit media head Naveen Kumar for making controversial comments about Prophet Mohammad, the Delhi Police booked 31 people for hurting religious sentiments and spreading misinformation. Two FIRs have been filed in the case: the first is based on Mr. Kumar’s comments and the second names Ms. Sharma and others, including Dasna Devi temple priest Yati Narsinghanand, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, and journalist Saba Naqvi. Mr. Owaisi reacted sharply to the development, tweeting that the police were suffering from “both sideism”. The persons were booked for “spreading hate, inciting groups and disturbing public tranquility,” the DGP said. AIMIM supporters protested the move. In West Bengal, where there are protests against Ms. Sharma’s comments, there is a case pending against her.  The government on Sunday faced a diplomatic storm over the comments, from the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council, Iran, the Maldives, Pakistan and others. Leaders in the Gulf region summoned Ambassadors, [expressed their unhappiness]( and worry about “extremism and hatred”, and some demanded a public apology. The government’s clarification and decision to suspend and expel the two BJP members, respectively, was welcome, but delayed, pointed out [this editorial](. The Government could have “avoided the entire controversy if it had acted according to the law, and immediately engaged with the issue before it snowballed into an international incident,” it said. The reason the government was forced to act was not the protests that had flared up in Kanpur against the remarks, but diplomatic embarrassment and the importance of the Gulf region. Read [here]( about why the Gulf region matters to India. The incident has also led to internal churn within the BJP with some members wondering why some are rewarded for making controversial remarks while others are penalised, wrote Nistula [here](. As the Delhi Police’s action comes against the backdrop of these developments, it is the pick of the day.  Was this newsletter forwarded to you? 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