'Defames Hindu Community': Lawyer Moves Delhi High Court Against Salman Khurshid's Book 'Sunrise Over Ayodhya'

A petition has been filed in the Delhi High Court seeking directions to stop the publication and sale of the book "Sunrise Over Ayodhya" written by Congress Leader and Former Union Minister Salman Khurshid.

Filed by Advocate Vineet Jindal through Advocate Raj Kishor Choudhary, the plea alleges that Khurshid has compared Hindutva to groups like ISIS and BOKO HARAM in his book. 

It cites an excerpt from the book under chapter titled "The Saffron Sky":

"Sanatan dharma and classical Hinduism known to sages and saints was being pushed aside by a robust version of Hindutva, by all standards a political version similar to jihadist Islam of groups like ISIS and Boko Haram of recent years."

According to the petitioner, the impugned statement is not only instigating and provoking but also enrages emotions among the Hindu religion followers.

"The contents of the statement made by respondent no. 5 claim Hinduism to be equivalent to ISIS and Boko haram, which are terrorist groups. It is a quite aggravating and defamatory statement for the whole Hindu community and also questions their values and virtues about a society. The equivalence of Hinduism to ISIS and Boko Haram is perceived as a negative ideology Hindus have been following and Hinduism is violent, inhuman and oppressive," the plea reads.

It adds:

"So, in a country like India, which is perpetually on a communal tinderbox, where religious sentiments run deep, where respect for certain public and historical figures always come accompanied with veneration for their demi-god status, it doesn't take much for malice to be coated with a toxic communal hue based on the contents of the book."

Publication of this Book has also been challenged in city's Patiala House Court, by way of a suit filed by Hindu Sena President, Vishnu Gupta seeking prohibitory injunction. It states that the plaintiff was shocked to read an excerpt from the book, allegedly hurting the religious sentiments of large number of people belonging to the Hindu religion.

Case Title: Vineet Jindal v. Union of India & Ors.