Sibal writes to authorities in UP, Uttarakhand; seeks preventive measures at proposed “dharam sansad” events

A day after the Supreme Court order on “dharam sansad” events where hate speeches were given, senior lawyer Kapil Sibal on Thursday wrote to authorities in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand seeking prevention of inflammatory speeches at more such events planned this month.

On behalf of the petitioners in the hate speeches case in Supreme Court, Sibal wrote to the district magistrates of Aligarh and Haridwar urging them to take preventive measures including imposition of Section 144 to prevent holding of such events.

“We are in the midst of general elections to the legislative assembly and while we do not want to attribute motives to any person, but if such speeches are made in the midst of an election, they will destabilize the social order and have serious consequences on the polity of this country.”We request you to take such preventative action within your powers as is necessary, including under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 and Sections 3 and 5 of the National Security Act, 1980,” Sibal said in his letter.He has also sent copies of his letters to chief ministers, home secretaries and police chiefs of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand besides the superintendents of police in Aligarh and Haridwar.

These nodal officers have not been appointed in Uttar Pradesh.The Supreme Cort had issued notice to the respondents and posted the matter for hearing after 10 days.

The top court was hearing a petition filed by journalist Qurban Ali and former Patna High Court judge and senior advocate Anjana Prakash, who have also sought a direction for an “independent, credible and impartial investigation” by an SIT into the incidents of hate speeches against the Muslim community.

Updated by Deveshi Gupta