Nupur Sharma has reacted to Rahul Gandhi’s remark. (X/PTI)
In the video, Nupur Sharma is heard saying: “When people in high positions claim that Hindus are violent, or when others say that ‘Sanatanis’ should be wiped out, one should understand this conspiracy.”
Former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Nupur Sharma, in a veiled jibe at Congress MP and Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi, reportedly called his “violent Hindus” remark a “conspiracy”. The Supreme Court (SC) had lambasted Sharma and she was suspended from the party for her controversial remarks on Prophet Muhammad in 2022, which had sparked major national, international rows and violence, including a beheading.
ALSO READ | ‘Single-handedly Responsible, Set Country on Fire’: SC Tears Into Nupur Sharma Over Prophet Remark
News18 has not verified the authenticity of the video, said to be from an event in Uttar Pradesh’s Ghaziabad, which has surfaced on social media. In the video, Sharma has purportedly said: “When people in high positions claim that Hindus are violent, or when others say that ‘Sanatanis’ should be wiped out, one should understand this conspiracy.”
About the controversy that led to her suspension and the SC rap, she is heard saying, “What I have seen in the last two years is there have been attempts to wipe out Sanatanis. And if Hindus were violent, then a Hindu daughter would not have to live under such heavy security in her own country…The country will be governed by its Constitution, not by any Sharia law.”
On July 1, in a post on social media after Gandhi’s remark, Sharma had said: “Not violent Hindus but those who talk about genocide of Hindus. Righteousness itself kills when killed Righteousness protects when protected Therefore, religious principles should not be killed. That is, whoever turns away from his own religion (Hindu) and destroys religion, he is destroyed by religion. He who protects righteousness, righteousness protects him.”
RAHUL GANDHI’s SPEECH, MODI’s REPLY
Gandhi launched a sharp attack on the ruling BJP, known for its pro-Hindu narrative and asserted that Hinduism is not about spreading fear, hatred and falsehoods but about non-violence and resilience.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday hit out at Gandhi saying people will not forgive him for centuries. Replying to the debate on Motion of Thanks on the President’s address in the Lok Sabha, the Prime Minister said, “People will not forgive (them) for centuries… Hindu is tolerant. A conspiracy was hatched to falsely accuse Hindus. It was said that Hindus are violent. This is your character, thinking and hatred.”
हर धर्म सिखाता है – डरो मत, डराओ मत।सत्य के साथ खड़ा होना चाहिए, उससे पीछे नहीं हटना चाहिए, और अहिंसा के रास्ते पर चलना चाहिए।
जब भाजपा ने देश में भय फैलाया, संविधान और लोकतंत्र की रक्षा के लिए INDIA ने इसी सोच को अपनाया। pic.twitter.com/SyPBkJHUMy
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) July 1, 2024
THE 2022 ROW
Sharma had made derogatory remarks on the Prophet during a debate on a news channel in July 2022, leading to a nationwide controversy, and a number of Muslim nations, including Iran, Saudi Arabia and UAE, raising the issue. The BJP had suspended Sharma and also issued a statement saying it respects all religions and strongly denounces insults of any religious personality.
हिंसक हिंदू नहीं बल्कि वो हैं जो हिंदुओं के नरसंहार की बात करते हैं।धर्म एव हतो हन्ति धर्मो रक्षति रक्षितः। तस्माद्धर्मो न हन्तव्यो मा नो धर्मो हतोऽवधीत् ॥
अर्थात- जो स्वधर्म (हिंदू) विमुख होकर धर्म का विनाश कर देता है, उस का विनाश धर्म कर देता है। जो धर्म की रक्षा करता है,…
— Nupur Sharma (@NupurSharmaBJP) July 1, 2024
Sharma was charged under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 295A (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs), 153A (promoting enmity between groups) and 505(2) (statements conducing to public mischief). The row led to several violent incidents in the country, including the beheading of a tailor in Rajasthan’s Udaipur who supported Sharma.
As Sharma reached the Supreme Court over the death threats, the Apex Court called her “single-handedly responsible” for what was happening in the country. The SC bench had observed that her “loose tongue” has not only “set the entire country on fire”, but she is also responsible for the unfortunate incident in Udaipur…Her outburst is responsible for the unfortunate incident at Udaipur. She should apologise to the whole country,” the court had said.
