New Delhi, Jul 02, 2022, By Special Correspondent

New Delhi, Jul 2: The Supreme Court on Friday slammed suspended BJP leader Nupur Sharma for her controversial comments against the Prophet, saying her "loose tongue" has "set the entire country on fire" and that she is "single-handedly responsible for what is happening in the country".

Refusing to entertain Sharma's plea for clubbing of FIRs lodged in various states against her for the remark, the bench held that the comment was made either for cheap publicity, political agenda or some nefarious activities.

"She actually has a loose tongue and has made all kinds of irresponsible statements on TV and set the entire country on fire. Yet, she claims to be a lawyer of 10 years standing... She should have immediately apologised for her comments to the whole country," the court said.

 

After the hearing which lasted for nearly 30 minutes, the bench said it is not convinced with her bonafide and the conscience of the court is not satisfied and refused to entertain the petition saying "you avail other remedies". 

 

Sharma's remark against the Prophet during a TV debate triggered protests across the country and drew sharp reactions from many Gulf countries. The BJP subsequently suspended her from the party.

"These remarks are very disturbing and smack of arrogance. What is her business to make such remarks? These remarks have led to unfortunate incidents in the country...These people are not religious. They do not have respect for other religions. These remarks were made for cheap publicity or political agenda or some other nefarious activities", the bench said.

While refusing to entertain Sharma's plea for clubbing of FIRs, a vacation bench of Justices Surya Kant and JB Pardiwala allowed her to withdraw the plea.

 

Hours after the SC observations, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused the BJP-led government at the Centre of creating an "environment of anger and hatred" in the country and said this is against the interest of India and its people.

 

Responding to a query by reporters in Wayanad (Kerala), his Lok Sabha constituency, on the Supreme Court remarks against Sharma, the Congress MP said what the apex court said was true, but the atmosphere in the country has not been created by the person who made the comments.

 

He alleged that it was created by the NDA government at the Centre.

 

After the court's unsparing criticism of Sharma, the Congress said the ruling party should hang its head in shame.

In a statement, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said the court has made crucial and far-reaching observations and strengthened the party's resolve to fight "destructively divisive ideologies".

"These remarks by the Supreme Court, which resonate with the entire country, should make the party in power hang its head in shame," he added.

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi demanded immediate arrest of Sharma and said rule of law should prevail.

The court's observations against the suspended BJP leader come in the backdrop of the brutal murder of a tailor in Udaipur by two men, who had posted videos online, claiming that they were avenging an insult to Islam.