India Tomorrow
NEW DELHI, JUNE 19— Hindi TV anchor Amish Devgan, who has earned notoriety for objectionable comments during live programs, is now facing multiple FIRs across the country for his derogatory remarks about India’s most revered Sufi Saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti.
Most of the Police cases were lodged against the News18 TV anchor on June 17, day after his controversial TV program, in various places including Ajmer, Mumbai, Aurangabad and Gwalior.
Those who have filed the complaints against him include Haji Syed Salman Chishty, custodian of Ajmer Sharif Dargah; Imran Dadani, Joint Secretary, Raza Academy; Zeeshan Siddique, Congress MLA from Vandre East; and Shiv Sena leader Rahul N Kanal.
Meanwhile, eminent Muslim institutions including All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) and Darul Uloom Deoband have also strongly condemned TV anchor’s remarks and demanded strong action against him from the government.
Jamiat Ulama-I-Hind, which has already taken a section of media to the Supreme Court for maligning the image of Tablighi Jamaat and Muslim community over Coronavirus, has also announced to raise the issue in the top court during the next hearing.
Raza Acadey officials filed complaint against Amish Devgan
The Dargah Police Station in Ajmer, where the shrine of the 12th century Sufi saint is located, has lodged an FIR against the TV anchor on June 16 under various sections of the Indian Penal Code including 153-B, 295-A and 298.
Haji Syed Salman Chishty, custodian of Ajmer Sharif Dargah, strongly condemned the TV anchor for his remarks. He even called him anti-national.
“If anti national Indian have a face here it is @AMISHDEVGAN who is hell bent on destroying the Spiritual Unity of my blessed country but none of your disgraceful acts shall disturb the Peace fabric n Unity in Diversity of India. Know that you anchor terrorist. #arrestamishdevgan,” tweeted Salman Chishty.
Congress MLA Zeeshan Siddique submitting complaint to Police in Mumbai
After filing an FIR against Devgan in Mumbai, Congress MLA Zeeshan Siddique said: “Personally went to file an FIR against Amish Devgan from @News18India at Nirmal Nagar police station, Bandra East. Amish Devgan cannot pass derogatory remarks against world renowned saint Hazrat Gareeb Nawaz & get away with it. #ArrestAmishDevgan.”
Youth leader of Shiv Sena Rahul N Kanal, who is also Member of Education Committee of MCGM, also filed a separate FIR.
Shiv Sena leader Rahul N Kanal also filed complaint against Amish Devgan in Mumbai
“Have filed a complaint against Amish Devgan from News18 India with DCP Shri Trimukhe Ji, also filed the same at the head office with our Hon.CP, glad to share that Mumbai police is filing a joint FIR against the said anchor and have been assured by our @MumbaiPolice @CPMumbaiPolice,” Kanal tweeted.
In its written complaint to the Mumbai Police Commissioner, Raza Academy said: “The Managing Editor and News18 anchor Mr Ameesh Devgan has made serious derogatory and blasphemous remarks on the world-renowned Saint Hazrat Khwaja Gareeb Nawaz in show dated 16.06.20…”
“Raza Academy takes strong objection to this and demands immediate arrest of Mr Devgan for creating discontent and trying to flare communal disharmony in the country…We demand the immediate arrest of Mr Ameesh Devgan under relevant IPC laws to maintain peace and tranquillity in the country”, it said.
It is not that only some individuals and organizations have filed FIRs against Amish Devgan, India’s top Muslim institutions have also issued strong statements against him.
Darul Uloom Deoband condemned Amish Devgan for his derogatory comments on Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti
Darul Uloom Deoband, in a statement on June 17, said: “Hazrat Ajmeri (RA) was great propagator of Islamic teachings and human values and holds position of undisputed spiritual leader in the Sub-Continent of India and Pakistan. People from across faiths love and respect him. The condemnable derogatory remarks of the TV anchor have pained every person and it has now become clear that communal forces now want to target Khanqah system and Dargahs after madrasas. Therefore, Darul Uloom Deoband strongly condemns his comments and demands the central government to take strong legal action against the channel.”
In a video statement, AIMPLB president Maulana Syed Rabey Hasani Nadwi has also condemned Devgan’s remarks.
Meanwhile, following the growing national outrage, Amish Devgan who is already facing another FIR in the Bandra railway station case, has apologized twice in two days for his comments about the Sufi saint.
“In 1 of my debates, I inadvertently referred to ‘Khilji’ as Chishti. I sincerely apologise for this grave error and the anguish it may hv caused to followers of the Sufi saint Moinuddin Chishti, whom I revere. I have in the past sought blessings at his dargah. I regret this error,” he tweeted Tuesday midnight.
