Defamatory comments against Mahatma Gandhi

Bhopal: A leader of a fringe right wing party in Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh was on Saturday booked for making objectionable comments against Mahatma Gandhi.

Police registered a case under section 153 (A) (promoting enmity between different groups on ground of religion, race, etc, and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony) against local Hindu Mahasabha leader Naresh Batham for making defamatory comments against Mahatma Gandhi.

The FIR was registered following a complaint lodged by a local social activist Ravindra Singh Chouhan saying that the actions of Hindu Mahasabha leader who called Mahatma Gandhi the architect of partition of India have hurt sentiments of those who believed in philosophy of the Father of nation and also threatened to disturb peace and harmony in the area, according to additional director general of police, Gwalior-Chambal range, Rajababu Singh.

The complainant produced leaflets purportedly being circulated by the leader of the right wing party that made offensive remarks against Mahatma Gandhi, besides glorifying Gandhi’s assassinator Nathuram Godse.

“We have launched a manhunt for the Hindu Mahasabha leader and his associates involved in circulation of the controversial pamphlet. They will be arrested soon”, a senior police officer of Gwalior district said.

The Hindu Mahasabha observed 70th death anniversary of Godse in Gwalior on November 15.

The Hindu Mahasabha had a few months ago sparked a controversy by building a temple for Godse in the Gwalior city.

Police had later seized the idol of Godse installed in a house which was converted into a temple in the city and stopped the Hindu Mahasabha leaders from going ahead with their plan to worship the killer of Mahatma Gandhi daily.