The complainant alleged that a person dressed up as Lord Hanuman was made to dance in front of BJP National President Nitin Nabin.
Photo: Facebook/NitinNabinBJP
A complaint has been filed over the alleged portrayal of Lord Hanuman during a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) roadshow in Lucknow with the Chandigarh Director General of Police (DGP) and the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP).
The complainant alleged that a person dressed up as Lord Hanuman was made to dance in front of BJP National President Nitin Nabin during the procession, claiming that the act hurt the religious sentiments of millions of Hindus.
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The complaint was submitted via email by Punjab and Haryana High Court advocate and Council of Lawyers Chairman Vasu Ranjan. He alleged that the use of Lord Hanuman’s sacred attire during a political event amounted to an inappropriate and disrespectful use of a revered religious symbol.
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The complaint sought immediate registration of an FIR, a fair investigation and preservation of all evidence related to the incident.
The complaint mentioned that Lord Hanuman is one of the most revered deities in Hinduism and using his image or attire for political campaigning is deeply objectionable. It alleged that such an act amounted to an insult to the faith of devotees and could attract provisions of Section 299 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, which deals with deliberate acts intended to outrage religious feelings.
The complainant also urged authorities to investigate the role of all persons associated with the event. It stated that since the incident allegedly took place in the presence of senior BJP leaders, including the party’s National President and a Chief Minister, investigators should examine the role of the organisers, event managers, the individual dressed as Lord Hanuman and every person who allegedly authorised, encouraged or knowingly permitted the act.
The complaint further requested that all electronic, digital and documentary evidence connected with the event be secured without delay. It also demanded strict legal action against every person found responsible during the investigation, irrespective of rank or official position.
Meanwhile, the alleged incident has triggered sharp political reactions. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal criticised the reported use of Lord Hanuman’s portrayal during the roadshow and demanded an apology from the BJP.
Sharing a video purportedly linked to the event, Kejriwal alleged that religious symbols should not be used for political purposes and claimed the incident had hurt the sentiments of devotees.
AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh also criticised the episode, alleging that making a person dressed as Lord Hanuman participate in a political procession while carrying a party flag amounted to disrespect towards the deity. He claimed that religious faith should never be reduced to a political spectacle.
Delhi Assembly Leader of Opposition Atishi also questioned the BJP over the controversy, alleging that the party should respond to concerns raised over the portrayal of Lord Hanuman during the roadshow.
At the time of filing this report, there was no official response from the BJP regarding the allegations made in the complaint or the statements issued by opposition leaders. The matter is yet to be examined by the authorities concerned.
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