Detained for 'derogatory-comments' on Konark Temple, defense expert gets bail
What's the story
Writer and defense expert Abhijit Iyer-Mitra was given conditional bail by Saket Court till September 28, after Delhi police detained him on Thursday. Abhijit has been asked to depose before Konark Police Station. He was arrested after his remarks on Odisha's Konark Temple apparently hurt 'religious sentiments' of many. In his satirical video, Abhijit spoke about the 13th Century Temple and its sculptures.
The row
In video, Abhijit spoke about sculptures and the Ram Mandir
Abhijit posted the video on Saturday, September 15, where he spoke about the sculptures. He said, "This is not a temple but a humple where people are humping. See these sculptures. Women with women, men with animals." Furthering his satirical attack, he said this was a conspiracy by Muslims against Hindus, and that these obscene sculptures shouldn't be there in 'our Ram Temple'.
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The video which landed Abhijit in trouble
Odisha 9: my special message to you from the Konark temple expressing my utter disgust at this monumental conspiracy against the Hindu Civilisation pic.twitter.com/wJeqZPHRDk
— Abhijit Iyer-Mitra (@Iyervval) September 16, 2018
The demands
Leaders across political spectrum unite against Abhijit
Soon voices seeking action against Abhijit gained momentum. In their collective disdain towards him, he also managed to unite Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and Congress. About the video, BJD MLA Sanjay Dasburma said, "It is an insult to the state and its existence. Action should be taken against the man.' Congress leader Narasingha Mishra said, "He says the sculpture is contrary to Hindu culture. This is unwarranted and condemnable."
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Congress calls Abhijit an RSS-man, BJP denies allegations
Mishra also called Abhijit an RSS-man, and BJP leader KV Singhdeo clarified by saying, "He is not a BJP man. The RSS has nothing to do with the proposed Ram Temple at Ayodhya. It is also not in the BJP's agenda."
Lawyer's statements
Earlier, Abhijit's lawyer said he hadn't seen the complaint
Scores of BJD leaders staged a protest at the well of the House. Soon after his arrest, his lawyer said they have not been given the complaint filed in Odisha. He said there isn't much clarity about who filed the complaint and what sections were invoked. "He's being taken to Saket court for remand. We're going there to oppose it," he said.
Support
#IStandWithAbhijit trends on Twitter, support pours in
Netizens expressed their discontent with the arrest and #IStandWithAbhijit soon took over social media. Political commentator Sunanda Vashisht tweeted: All those screaming fascism day in and day out should check out police state run by Navin Patnaik. ORF fellow Samir Saran wrote: This is terrible news. @Iyervval has been detained ??? Really !!!! For what ? For satire? Are we a police state?
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This is plain harassment, tweets Anand Ranganathan
UPDATE: Just talked with @Iyervval's lawyer, friend @TweetinderKaul. He is at the courts awaiting Abhijit. Will be applying for bail.
— Anand Ranganathan (@ARanganathan72) September 20, 2018
Odisha Police is INSISTING on remand - they want to take him to Odisha. FOR WHAT? This is plain harassment of a citizen on political pressure.