-- RVR
Hon'ble Judges,
Two days ago, you heard Nupur Sharma's request
in the Supreme Court. That was her plea to club at least nine FIR's filed against
her in police stations across four States, with the one at Delhi. My Lords, I
am a law-abiding citizen wanting to speak for ordinary people. Please enlighten
us more on what you said in open court to Nupur's lawyer.
Nupur Sharma was facing threats to her life from
hardcore Muslims. That was because, while speaking in a TV debate a few weeks ago she made some statements about Prophet Mohammed
that were factually correct and acknowledged in Islam as facts. Equally
important, she spoke so on being provoked in that debate by a Muslim
participant who made cheap remarks about a Hindu God. As judges who see more
and hear more - but should speak less - you would know this was what happened
in that TV debate. My Lords, please enlighten us more on what you said in court.
If Nupur Sharma felt she was exposing herself to
violent physical attacks by visiting magistrates' courts across States to
answer those FIR's, that would be natural. Three days before you heard her
lawyer in court a tailor in Udaipur, Kanhaiya Lal, who shared his support to
Nupur Sharma on social media had been killed in a knife attack by two hardcore
Muslims in retaliation, with one of them making a video of the gruesome event –
which he later circulated. If Nupur Sharma were my sister I would deeply feel
for her on her apprehension about her safety. Would you not feel likewise My
Lords, if she were your sister?
Oh, sorry My Lords. We understand that judges
must discharge their functions fairly according to law, without personally or unreasonably
feeling for Nupur Sharma - or of course for the other side. So the court may
accept or decline her request for clubbing of FIR’s as it considers
right. That is not the issue now. What My Lords said in open court against her is
what we wish to understand. Some quotes of what My Lords said that day, as
found in newspapers, are here:
“She
has threat or she has become security threat? The way she has ignited emotions
across the country, this lady is single-handedly responsible for what is
happening in the country.”
“It is so disturbing …… The outcome is what happened at Udaipur…… Please
do not compel us to open our mouth …..”
"The
petition smacks of her arrogance, that the Magistrates of the country are too
small for her."
“She
should have gone to the TV and apologised to the nation."
Look at it this way, My Lords.
Imagine that Nupur Sharma kept silent in the TV
debate without reacting to the cheap remarks made by a Muslim about a Hindu
God.
Also assume that another Muslim man had tweeted
his support for those hurting remarks on TV and then two Hindus, wielding
knives, killed that man for his tweet.
Now, should we expect that My Lords will
likewise severely criticise in open court the Muslim who spoke so ill of a
Hindu God on TV, and seemingly suggest – in this imaginary story – that the dastardly
crime of the two Hindu killers was caused by that culprit mocking a Hindu God
on TV?
What do we understand, My Lords, in your strong
condemnation of Nupur Sharma? Especially in the background of the horrific
Udaipur murder?
Should we believe that Nupur had no provocation
from a Muslim in a TV debate to say instantly what she said?
In any case, is it not true that Nupur's
statement is acknowledged in Islam as a historical fact?
Should we believe that two men with knives may
be fairly provoked enough to kill a person who merely voiced his support to
Nupur Sharma?
Should we believe
that the real villains here are not the man who first spoke basely about a
Hindu God on TV drawing Nupur Sharma’s instant reaction, and perhaps not also
the two Udaipur killers, but that Nupur Sharma is the villain?
And finally, if a judge of a district court or
high court - not the supreme court - had expressed himself likewise in open
court, should we believe that the supreme court will stand by that?
Sure, My Lords, minorities may be passionate
about their religion. Sure also, My Lords, that the majority too could be
passionate about their religion. But neither should be allowed to
intimidate or subdue the other, that too abusing any special rights law may
give them – right or wrong?
And may we know: If the contempt law protects
judges against individuals who act in disrespect or denigration of judges – no doubt, judges need such
protection - is there protection for an individual from a judge who overspeaks?
My Lords, we are so confused. Please pardon us
for any limited understanding. And for wanting to understand more on happenings
that trouble our hearts and minds to a limit when we cannot hide our aches. So
we speak out – that’s perhaps our safety valve.
We must say this too. We are anguished that the
most outstanding defender and saviour of our democracy has to face some questions
now. We hope time is a corrective and a healer
Most Respectfully,
A law-abiding citizen
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Copyright © R. Veera Raghavan 2022
