Fadnavis demands action Sharjeel Usmani for ‘objectionable’ comments in Elgar Parishad speech

On Feb 3, 2021

Pune: Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has written to incumbent Uddhav Thackeray, demanding action against ex-AMU student leader Sharjeel Usmani over his speech at the Elgar Parishad conclave in Pune on January 30.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has taken up the issue in a big way, saying the speech insulted the Hindu religion.

Apart from Sharjeel Usmani, among those who participated in the conclave were eminent novelist Arundhati Roy, former IPS officer SM Mushrif and former Bombay High Court judge BG Kolse-Patil.

“Sharjeel Usmani in Pune. Regarding the insulting, offensive, serious statement made about the entire Hindu community at the Elgar Conference on January 30, 2021 and the need for immediate and stern action by the state government on it.

शरजील उस्मानी याने पुणे येथे दि. 30 जानेवारी 2021 रोजी एल्गार परिषदेत समस्त हिंदू समाजाबद्दल केलेले अवमानजनक, आक्षेपार्ह, गंभीर वक्तव्य आणि त्याच्यावर राज्य सरकारतर्फे तातडीने आणि कठोरातील कठोर कारवाई करण्याची गरज, याबाबत मुख्यमंत्री मा. उद्धव ठाकरेजी यांना पत्र @CMOMaharashtra pic.twitter.com/a0jNk6FEq0
— Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) February 2, 2021

Speaking on the recent Elgar Parishad event, Maharashtra minister Chhagan Bhujbal on Tuesday said that while accusing a religion, one should be wary of the words. “A religion might’ve flaws but how it’s brought up is what provokes people. You’ve freedom of speech but people’s sentiments must be considered. I want police to probe,” he said.

On Monday, Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh had said that the state government will examine if any objectionable speeches were made at the event. Asked to comment on the alleged objectionable speeches at the conclave, Deshmukh said, “We have asked for videos of all the speeches made at the Elgar Parishad. We will have to examine if anything objectionable was said or not, and action will be taken accordingly.”