Political leader tears Manusmriti on live television

Case ID : b45f48d | Location : India | Date of Incident : Tue, 17 December, 2024
Case ID : b45f48d
location India
date 17 December, 2024
Political leader tears Manusmriti on live television
Attack on Hindu religious representations
Desecration of Hindu religious symbol

Case Summary

RJD spokesperson Priyanka Bharti tore a copy of the Manusmriti during a live debate on India TV, criticising it for promoting caste discrimination. She stated, "This Manusmriti, which people like you worship tirelessly, is what I tear apart. It made our society 'Shudras' and 'untouchables.'" Bharti also targeted Union Home Minister Amit Shah, accusing him of disrespecting Dr. B.R. Ambedkar by drawing inspiration from V.D. Savarkar. She quoted Savarkar’s remarks about Ambedkar and Buddhism during the debate. Bharti further declared her intent to continue tearing the Manusmriti. RJD spokesperson Priyanka Bharti also tweeted a statement referencing Savarkar's criticism of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and Buddhism. She accused Amit Shah of insulting Ambedkar and vowed to tear apart the Manusmriti each time, as a protest against its principles. An FIR was filed against the RJD spokesperson for tearing religious texts during a TV debate. Bharat Tiwari of the Rashtriya Swarna Parishad lodged the complaint, accusing Bharti of fostering social animosity and hurting his religious sentiments. He also named India TV owner Rajat Sharma and TV9 owner Varun Das, stating they promoted the act for TRP. Tiwari also invited Bharti to Aligarh to study Sanskrit.

Why it is Hate Crime ?

This case has been added to the Hinduphobia tracker under the prime category of- Attack on Hindu religious representations. Under this, the sub-category chosen is- Desecration of Hindu religious symbol. Icons and symbols or a religious representation of a spiritual ideal are widely revered in Hinduism. Iconography is of vital significance in the Hindu milieu. It helps connect people’s spiritual beliefs with the real world. Iconography within the Hindu faith takes several shapes and forms. Murtis are of most significance to Hindus, to which daily rituals, prayers and offerings are done. Besides the murtis, there are several other symbols which have deep significance in the Hindu faith – the Om and Swastika for example. Since these Hindu religious symbols hold paramount importance in Hinduism, any desecration of symbols, icons, murtis, religious representations and manifestations, is driven by animosity towards the faith itself which manifests itself through these murtis, icons and symbols. Therefore, any desecration of these Hindu religious symbols and representations is considered religiously motivated hate crimes under this category. The Manusmriti is one of the foundational texts in Hinduism, traditionally attributed to the sage Manu. It serves as a dharmaśāstra, offering guidance on various aspects of life, including morality, law, and social conduct. It is a symbol of Hindu cultural and religious heritage and desecrating the holy text can be viewed as an affront to Hinduism. There could be no other reason than an inherent animosity against Hinduism that led the leader to commit the offence. Since disrespect for the Hindu religion is the primary purpose behind this incident, this case has been added to the tracker.

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Case Status


Complaint filed

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Perpetrators Details

Perpetrators


Others

Perpetrators Range


One Person

Perpetrators Gender


female

Case Details SVG
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