Prashant Bhushan Files Criminal Complaint Against Madhu Kishwar Alleging Communally Provocative Tweet [Read Complaint]

Advocate Prashant Bhushan has filed a criminal complaint against Madhu Kishwar alleging that her tweet against Rohingyas in connection with Kathua rape-murder case was her communally provocative. Madhu Kishwar, an academic activist, has a twitter handle with more than 2 million followers.  On April 14, she had tweeted that the rape and murder of the minor girl in Kathua were suspected to be a handiwork of Rohingya refugees. She used the term ‘jihadi’ to describe Rohingyas.

Prasanth Bhushan, in his complaint filed before SHOL, Tilak Marg Police Station, New Delhi, alleged that she had been using her twitter handle to spread hatred and misinformation, and the tweet of April 14 was cited as such an instance. It was alleged that the information in the tweet was false, and was intended to incite violence against Rohingya community. The complaint further alleged that by using the term ‘jihadi’ for Rohingyas, she incited hatred against a helpless minority. Therefore, the complaint stated that she had committed offences of promoting communal enmity, deliberate and malicious insult on religious feelings and making statements promoting hatred and ill-will in society, which are punishable under Sections 153A, 295A and 505 of the Indian Penal Code.

The complaint further pointed out that the Supreme Court was considering the case of Rohingya migrants, and it has been stated on record in Court that not even a single case has been filed against any Rohingya person for terrorism in Jammu & Kashmir. The complaint also mentioned the incident of a Rohingya camp in Delhi getting destroyed in fire during the early hours of April 15, and voiced the suspicion that the destruction of Rohingya camp could be a result of a provocative tweet of Kishwar.