Famous poet, Munawwar Rana, while talking to a channel had made statements comparing Valmiki to Taliban.
He stated that Valmiki became God after he wrote the Ramayana, before that he was a dacoit.
He further stated a persons character can change, similarly, the Taliban, are currently terrorists but people and characters can change.
He made also made a statement “when you talk about Valmiki, you will have to talk about his past. In your religion, you make anyone god. But he was a writer and he wrote the Ramayana, but we are not in competition here.”
Mr. PL Bharti in his complaint alleged that Mr Rana, in his statement, hurt feelings of Dalits by comparing Taliban with Valmiki and hurt feelings of Hindus.
Based on the complaint an FIR has been lodged in Hazratganj Kotwali Police in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, against the poet for hurting religious feelings.
The FIR has been registered for offences under the following sections of the India Penal Code:
- Section 153A (Promoting enmity between different groups on ground of religion, race, place of birth etc.),
- Section 295 A (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class)
- Section 505(1)(B) (with intent to cause, or which is likely to cause, fear or alarm to the public) and
- Offences under SC/ST Atrocities Prevention Act.
Lawcutor 