FIR filed against Togadia in Nanded

Nearly 16 days after hardline Hindutva leader Praveen Togadia allegedly made an inflammatory speech targeting a particular community, the Nanded Police on Thursday filed a case against him under section 153 A for promoting enmity on grounds of religion.

Togadia on January 22 in the border town of Bhokhar in Nanded District in Maharashtra adjoining Andhra Pradesh had made a speech in which he had pointed out to the communal massacres in Nelli, Bhagalpur and Gujarat.

Togadia purportedly made this statement in reaction to AIMIM legislator Akbaruddin Owaisi's statement that the Muslims would show their might to the Hndus if the police stepped aside. A hue and cry in social media platforms had finally made the Centre take cognizance of the entire issue with the Centre's Minister of State for Home RPN Singh asking the state to take action against Togadia if his speech was found to be inflammatory.

The Nanded Police had also received complaints and finally decided to file a case on Thursday.

Earlier, Maharashtra Home Minister R R Patil has claimed that strict action will be taken against all those found to promote hate between communities. "Anyone who is found trying to promote hate between communities will be severely dealt with," Patil said.

Togadia, meanwhile, denied that he made any kind of hate speech and said he was stating historical facts.

'Owaisi, Togadia should be seen in same light'

Maharashtra Minorities Affairs minister Naseem Khan said Thursday that MIM leader Akbaruddin Owaisi and VHP leader Pravin Togadia should be seen in the same light as both of them have tried to inflame communal passions through their speeches.

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