In a surprising turn of events, the Modi government has told the Supreme Court that a book on terrorism authored by Bharatya Janata Party's firebrand leader Subramanian Swamy promotes hatred between Hindus and Muslims.
The affidavit filed by the government on Tuesday was in response to Swamy's petition challenging the constitutional validity of the Indian Penal Code Section 153A on the grounds that it violates free speech.
The government affidavit states that Swamy's book - Terrorism in India: A Strategy of Deterrence for India's National Security - violates Section 153A.
"That the petitioner has written a book named Terrorism in India wherein he made hate speech against the community of India. The book—it’s theme, it’s language, it’s innuendos, the similes it employs and the moral of the story, if any—in order to ascertain whether the offending passages read in the context of the book as a whole fall within the mischief of section 153A," reads the affidavit.
"The book to be considered in all its aspects as it contains matter which 'promotes feeling of enmity and hatred between Hindus and Muslims in India.' Therefore, the petitioner has violated sections of IPC," reads the affidavit.
Swamy has not yet responded to HuffPost India's email seeking comment.
CNN IBN's Ashok Bagariya first reported story on Tuesday evening, around the same time as Congress Party President Sonia Gandhi concluded her march to seek President Pranab Mukherjee's intervention against a "sinister campaign" to spread hatred under the BJP-led government.
Swamy has reportedly questioned whether Laltlana Chhangte, the official in the Ministry of Home Affairs, who filed the affidavit, had "political clearance."
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The affidavit filed by the government on Tuesday was in response to Swamy's petition challenging the constitutional validity of the Indian Penal Code Section 153A on the grounds that it violates free speech.
IPC 153 A: "Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony."
The government affidavit states that Swamy's book - Terrorism in India: A Strategy of Deterrence for India's National Security - violates Section 153A.
"That the petitioner has written a book named Terrorism in India wherein he made hate speech against the community of India. The book—it’s theme, it’s language, it’s innuendos, the similes it employs and the moral of the story, if any—in order to ascertain whether the offending passages read in the context of the book as a whole fall within the mischief of section 153A," reads the affidavit.
"The book to be considered in all its aspects as it contains matter which 'promotes feeling of enmity and hatred between Hindus and Muslims in India.' Therefore, the petitioner has violated sections of IPC," reads the affidavit.
Swamy has not yet responded to HuffPost India's email seeking comment.
READ: Subramanian Swamy's New Hindutva Outfit Is For English-Speaking, Social Media Savvy Indians
CNN IBN's Ashok Bagariya first reported story on Tuesday evening, around the same time as Congress Party President Sonia Gandhi concluded her march to seek President Pranab Mukherjee's intervention against a "sinister campaign" to spread hatred under the BJP-led government.
#BREAKING | Government recommends prosecution against Former Union Cabinet minister Subramanian Swamy pic.twitter.com/RfCCQhLnTD
— CNN-IBN News (@ibnlive) November 3, 2015Swamy has reportedly questioned whether Laltlana Chhangte, the official in the Ministry of Home Affairs, who filed the affidavit, had "political clearance."
Swamy questions affidavit filed by govt in SC, speaking to CNN-IBN @ibnlive, asks if under-secretary who filed it had 'political clearance'
— Sayoni Aiyar (@sayoniaiyar) November 3, 2015
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