Plea seeks case against Eknath Shinde, BJP’s Nitesh Rane over anti-Muslim remarks

A Mumbai-based resident has filed a petition in the Bombay High Court seeking the registration of an FIR against Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and BJP MLA Nitesh Rane over anti-Muslim remarks and not taking action against those spreading hate and Islamophobia.
Advocate Ejaz Naqvi mentioned the plea filed by Bandra resident Mohammad Wasi Sayed for an urgent hearing before the court which decided to hear the issue on Thursday.
The petition seeks a directive to take action against organisers of “Islamophobic” rallies and also for authorities to completely stop the live broadcast of Rane’s rallies and speeches against members of the Muslim community.
It also stresses the need for the state to demand senior police officers to take responsibility and accountability in case permission is given to the BJP MLA or any others found to be “habitual Islamophobic” from holding such rallies.
The plea further says that Shinde and Rane should be jointly held liable by the High Court as “hatemonger, hate speaker, Islamophobic” and “may thereafter be further directed to face disqualification and prosecution as per their oath and violation, for violating the Representation of Peoples Act and violating the Constitution of India”.
Additionally, it has also urged action against BJP spokesperson Shahzad Poonawala and former party spokesperson Nupur Sharma for allegedly spreading hateful content against Muslims and Islamophobic posts on the basis of fake news.
The plea also says that the Centre and states should frame guidelines against media outlets from running hateful content, while cyber police should remove such material on social media.
Nitesh Rane stoked controversy this month with provocative speeches against the Muslim community.
At an event on September 1, he threatened Muslims of “entering your masjid and hunting you down” if Hindu seer Mahant Ramgiri Maharaj, who has been charged with making alleged derogatory remarks about Islam and the Prophet Muhammad, was harmed.