UP Police Slaps Sedition Case on Influencer Arpit Sharma Over Viral Nepal Video
New Delhi: On September 11, the Uttar Pradesh Police filed an FIR against influencer Arpit Sharma, who creates content on social issues and politics, over a viral video on social media which, the FIR alleged, threatens India’s sovereignty and “has angered the masses”.
The Bulandshahar police have charged Sharma under different sections of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), including Section 152 (acts endangering the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India) which reintroduces the colonial sedition law. The FIR alleges that Sharma made a video in the backdrop of the GenZ revolt in Nepal to stoke violence in India. It accuses Sharma of misusing digital media to undermine India’s integrity.
For three days, Sharma has been a target of online trolling and death threats. Sharma, who is also a chartered accountant based in England, told The Wire that details of his workplace have been leaked online and his statements are being quoted out of context, leading to death threats and rape threats against his family members.
The video
In a reel last week, a day after Nepal’s Gen Z protests erupted, Sharma had praised the youth of Nepal and questioned Indian GenZ for not protesting issues like E20 fuel, corruption and hate speeches. Sharma told The Wire, “When I made the video, the protests were peaceful but at no point was I inciting people.”
Sharma feels that the witch-hunt is happening because of his anti-Bharatiya Janata Party and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh views. “I will never agree with Godse and Savarkar. My father is being dragged into this for my views. The truth is that I have criticised AAP [the Aam Aadmi Party] too when they were in power.”
Sharma also defended his video on social media. “I believe in Gandhi, I believe in Nehru, I am a peace loving citizen of this country. I never ever support any violence. I am against hate, I am against Godse, I am against genocide,” he wrote in one post.
In another, he stated, “I have done nothing wrong, said nothing wrong. Hate cannot shake me. They are viciously defaming me but I will try to stand tall.”
"With Gandhiji’s values as my strength, Bhagat Singh’s courage & Baba Saheb’s constitution, I stand for peace, truth & unity,” Sharma said.
A spate of similar cases has been recently reported, especially from Uttar Pradesh. Last year, fact-checker Mohammad Zubair was booked under Section 152 for sharing a video of Yati Narsinghanand, the controversial Hindutva leader best known for his violent anti-Muslim rhetoric. Right after Operation Sindoor, sedition cases were filed against folk singer Neha Singh Rathore and satirist Madri Kakoti (aka Dr Medusa). The most prominent case in this string was the one against Ashoka University professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad, who was arrested for his comments on Operation Sindoor, speaking out against war-mongering and questioning those did not demand justice for victims of "BJP's hate mongering".
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