Hanuman Chalisa Issue: In Maharashtra, the matter of Hanuman Chalisa has now acquired a political as well as a legal form. Citing law and order on this issue, Maharashtra Police has registered a case of sedition along with several cases against MP Navneet Rana and her husband Ravi Rana. The Rana couple is in judicial custody in this case and has applied for bail for their release.
In the application filed on behalf of the plaintiff, it has been said that the acts of the applicant in any form i.e. even in the imagination cannot be termed as an offence of sedition. The applicant did not intend to incite violence or cause any public disorder.
Citing a statement of the Hon'ble CJI challenging Section 124-A in 2021, it has been said that on the gravity of the situation, if any party does not want to hear the voice of the other side, they can choose the right to protest. The same applies to the present facts.
The respondent, on the instructions of the present State machinery, has invoked the draconian provision of 124-A against the applicant only intending to suppress the freedom of speech and expression.
Meanwhile, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has handed over Navneet Rana's case to the Privilege Committee. Navneet Rana has alleged that when he was imprisoned, he was denied the basic right to drinking water. The word caste was used and along with it the use of washroom was also not allowed.
Navneet Rana said that his motive was not to spread violence or to challenge the law and order. Her motive was that Uddhav Thackeray should reach the common man's word and he was successful in reaching it.
