Hate speeches were made at a Dharma Sansad or religious assembly in Haridwar (File)
The Uttarakhand government, central government and Delhi Police have been ordered by the Supreme Court to reply to a petition on the "Dharma Sansad" or religious assembly hate speech case within 10 days. The court was hearing a petition by former judge of Patna High Court Justice Anjana Prakash and journalist Qurban Ali.
The petition says that between December 17 and 19 at two separate events held in Delhi by the Hindu Yuva Vahini and in Haridwar by religious leader Yati Narsinghanand, hate speeches were made, consisting of open calls for genocide of Muslims in order to achieve ethnic cleansing.
Days after the Dharma Sansad in Uttarakhand's Haridwar, where Hindu religious leaders made open calls for genocide and use of weapons against Muslims, they were seen in a video laughing with a police officer, who they said will be "on our side".
The petition says that "no action whatsoever has been taken by the Delhi Police in relation with the event held in Delhi despite the fact that open calls for genocide, that are available on the internet, were made therein."
The Supreme Court allowed the petitioners to approach local authorities with their request to stop another Dharma Sansad to be held in UP's Aligarh on January 23.
Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, who appeared for the petitioners, told the Supreme Court today, "No arrests are taking place. The atmosphere of the country will be vitiated. Ethos of the republic will be affected if these events are constantly being held, especially in election-bound states."
The matter was heard by a bench of Chief Justice of India NV Ramana, Justice Surya Kant and Justice Hima Kohli.
The petitioners sought an independent and credible investigation by a special investigation team into the hate speeches.
Clips from the Haridwar event -- held from December 17 to 20 -- were circulated on social media and drew sharp criticism from former military chiefs, activists and even international tennis legend Martina Navratilova.
Those who organised the event and gave the hate speeches maintain that they have done no wrong.
"I am not ashamed of what I have said. I am not afraid of police. I stand by my statement," Prabodhanand Giri -- photographed often with BJP leaders including Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and his Uttarakhand counterpart Pushkar Dhami -- told NDTV on December 23.
UP will vote in a seven-phase election starting February 10. Counting is on March 10.