3 Face Anti-National Charges Over Faiz Poem At Filmmaker's Memorial
's iconic couplet "Hum Dekhenge" at an event organised by activist
in memory of her late husband and acclaimed filmmaker Veera Sathidar led
to invoke the stringent
(BNS) that charged her and two others with endangering sovereignty and integrity of the nation along with fomenting communal disharmony.
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The FIR at Sitabuldi police station late last week followed a complaint by a right-wing activist, Dattatreya Shirke, who accused her of anti-national activity, including raising anti-establishment chorus to target govt and trigger strife in society. Sitabuldi senior inspector Vithal Singh Rajput told TOI the case is under investigation, statements will be recorded, but no arrests have been made yet.
"Section 152 of BNS was invoked as activities of the three persons tantamount to sedition under the erstwhile Indian Penal Code," said a police official, adding the participants have been under watch.
Faiz's poem which mobilised traction on campuses during anti-CAA protests, has again sparked off controversy, days after 'Operation Sindoor'.
With Maharashtra on the verge of passing the proposed Public Security Bill to tighten grip around subversive frontal organizations, there is surveillance on outfits whose activities fall in the ambit of anti-national platforms.
Pushpa, under the banner of Veera Sathidar Smruti Samanvay Samiti, had organized a memorial programme for the late filmmaker, who played a stellar role in the film — 'Court' —India's official entry in the Academy Awards in 2016.
Pushpa's programme was attended by members of Left organizations and socio-cultural platforms engaged in championing the rights of the oppressed.
A participant of Samta Kala Manch, a socio-cultural platform, rendered the Urdu verses penned by Faiz Ahmed Faiz, underscoring defiance against the govt. As per the complaint, she was followed by another participant who claimed that such "songs were required in contemporary society, which is under an oppressive rule".
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