Yati Narsinghanand faces arrest for hate speech after remarks on Prophet Muhammad fuels public anger

Yati Narsinghanand, the chief priest of the Dasna temple in Ghaziabad, is once again in the spotlight for controversial remarks. This time, he is facing hate speech charges after making derogatory statements about Prophet Muhammad during an event held at Hindi Bhavan in Ghaziabad on September 29. His comments, which quickly circulated online, have triggered widespread outrage across several states, leading to protests and clashes with the police.

The remarks have provoked demonstrations outside the Dasna Devi temple in Ghaziabad, with a crowd gathering on Friday night. The local police intervened to disperse the protesters and heightened security around the temple to prevent further unrest. According to reports, Yati Narsinghanand’s close aides claimed that he had been detained, though Ghaziabad police have not confirmed his detention. DCP (Rural) Surendra Nath Tiwari stated, "I have no idea about his detention."

FIRs Filed Across States Following Violent Protests
Several First Information Reports (FIRs) have been filed against Narsinghanand in different states, including Telangana and Maharashtra. AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi met with Hyderabad Police Commissioner CV Anand on Saturday, demanding legal action against the priest.

Owaisi said, "Today, we met CV Anand and gave a representation against Yati Narsinghanand, priest of Dasna temple, Ghaziabad. In a speech, he has used derogatory, obnoxious and highly condemnable language against Prophet Muhammad. Narsinghanand has already been arrested earlier for making hate speeches and one of his bail conditions is that he does not utter such rubbish again.”

Owaisi also mentioned that a copy of Supreme Court orders was submitted to the commissioner, highlighting that suo moto action should be taken against individuals delivering hate speech. "The SC has also made it clear that any hesitation to act in accordance with this will be viewed as contempt of the court and appropriate action will be taken against the officers," Owaisi added.

Following Owaisi's meeting, the Telangana police registered an FIR against Narsinghanand. In Maharashtra's Amravati city, his remarks sparked violent protests on Friday night, resulting in clashes between protesters and the police.

According to reports, 21 police personnel were injured, and 10 police vans were damaged in the unrest caused by stone pelting. FIRs were lodged under sections of the Indian Penal Code, including Section 299 (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings), Section 302 (intentionally uttering words to wound religious sentiments), and Section 197 (acts that harm national integration).

Calls for Arrest and Bail Cancellation
Muslim leaders and organizations, including Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind and Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH), have condemned Narsinghanand’s remarks and called for immediate action. Maulana Arshad Madani, the president of Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, stated, "Narsinghanand has made intolerable blasphemous remarks against Prophet Muhammad."

Malik Motasim Khan, Vice President of JIH, expressed a similar sentiment, saying, “We strongly condemn the highly blasphemous remarks made by Swami Yatinarsinghanand against Prophet Muhammad. These statements are not only deeply hurtful to millions of Muslims but are a deliberate act of provocation aimed at inciting communal tensions. His repeated derogatory remarks are intolerable, and he must be immediately arrested by the authorities. Such evil people pose a significant threat to peace and law and order in the country."

Owaisi, who has been vocal in demanding Narsinghanand’s arrest, emphasized the urgency of cancelling his bail, arguing that the priest had violated the conditions of his previous arrest for hate speech. "Narsinghanand has already been arrested earlier for making hate speeches, and one of his bail conditions is that he does not utter such rubbish again," Owaisi said.

He also criticized the lack of immediate action against Narsinghanand, suggesting that the priest had support from the Uttar Pradesh government. "I am sure this guy has the backing of the Yogi government in UP and BJP, which is why he is daring to do so. Instead of arresting him, they are defending him," he alleged.

Protests Escalate as Authorities Scramble to Maintain Order
In Uttar Pradesh, protests outside the Dasna temple led to an FIR being registered against 150 individuals who participated in the demonstrations. However, tensions continue to rise as calls for Narsinghanand’s arrest intensify. BJP MLA Nand Kishor Gurjar claimed that the temple was attacked during the protests, though the police have not confirmed any such incident.

Gurjar further stated, "The Police put up a performance of doing a lathicharge at night, but should have shot 10-20 people in an encounter at night… This is an attack on Hindutva… If 10-20 people had been killed, there wouldn’t have been a ruckus like this."

The protests in Uttar Pradesh have also spread to other cities, including Bulandshahr, with demonstrators demanding swift action against Narsinghanand. The situation remains tense as authorities work to prevent further violence while addressing the growing unrest.

Yati Narsinghanand’s inflammatory remarks have reignited religious tensions across the country, leading to multiple FIRs, protests, and violent clashes. With demands for his immediate arrest and the cancellation of his bail growing louder, authorities are under pressure to take swift action. As the situation continues to develop, the focus remains on maintaining peace and law and order in the face of mounting communal unrest.