Haridwar 'hate speech': Satyamev turned Shastramev Jayate, says PIL; SC agrees to hear

Weeks after a so-called 'Dharma Sansad' or religious assembly saw alleged hate speeches being made against the Muslim community, the Supreme Court has taken note. Chief Justice of India said that the top court would take up the matter related to alleged calls for genocide given at the Haridwar event.

Representing petitioners who filed a Public Interest Litigation, senior lawyer Kapil Sibal reportedly said that the country's slogan seems to have changed from 'satyamev jayate', which means truth always triumphs, to 'shastramev jayate', i.e. might always triumphs.

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When asked by the SC bench whether any action had been taken by authorities, the petitioners reportedly said that only FIRs had been filed.

The Haridwar event, held between December 17 and 19 last year, had reportedly been organised by religious leader Yati Narasimhanand. Speakers had allegedly called for violence against Muslims.

After outrage, the Uttarakhand police filed an FIR against one person - Waseem Rizvi who has converted to Hinduism and calls himself Jitendra Tyagi now. Later, 4 more people were reportedly named - Narasimhanand, Sagar Sidhu Maharaj, Dharamdas, and Pooja Shakun Pandey.