Srinagar: Over a dozen religious preachers of Kashmir and Ladakh including Mirwaiz Umar Farooq in a joint letter to the Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday seeking appropriate legal action against Yati Narsinghanand for his alleged "blaspheming" comments against the Prophet Muhammad.
“We demand that the Government of India take appropriate legal action against Yati Narsinghanand for his hate-filled comments in accordance with the law and constitution of the land and respect the sanctity of our faith”, the letter circulated to the media reads.
The religious preachers have sought urgent attention from the Home Minister Amit Shah on a “deeply concerning issue that has affected the sentiments of millions of Muslims across India and beyond”, the letter reads.
“The inflammatory and defamatory remarks made by Yati Narsinghanand, targeting the holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him), have caused severe emotional distress to the Muslim community and created potential for widespread unrest”, it said.
“Freedom of speech is a fundamental right in any democratic society, but it cannot be a license to spread hate and cause deep hurt to the religious sentiments and of an entire community”, the letter further reads.
India is a land of many religions and ethnicities, where respect for all religions should be paramount.
Such remarks are not only offensive but also divisive and pose a threat to communal harmony and peace, the letter said.
“Immediate and firm action in this matter will send a strong message that hate speech and incitement to violence will have no place in the civilised society”, the letter reads.
“It will also serve as a reassurance to the Muslim community that their faith and values are respected and protected under the law”, the communiqué said.
“We hope that you will address this sensitive matter with seriousness and we hope that necessary steps will be taken to restore peace and harmony among all communities”, the letter concludes.