Complaint against Suresh Chavhanke for hate speech at Hindu Yuva Vahini event

A complaint has been filed against the editor-in-chief of Sudarshan News, Suresh Chavhanke, for his hate speech and an “oath to a large number of people inciting feelings of communal violence” at an event held by the Hindu Yuva Vahini in Delhi on December 19, Live Law reported.

The complaint﹘marked to the Delhi Police Commissioner and also the Govindpuri police station SHO﹘was submitted on Monday by Prashant Dubey, Avani Bansal and Prakhar Dixit of the All India Professionals’ Congress. “Please take note that this is not the first time that Sudarshan TV's Chief Editor Suresh Chavhanke has made communal and irresponsible statements. He recently made remarks about minority community members ‘infiltrating’ into the civil services and citing a conspiracy on the increasing number of Muslims entering bureaucracy. Therefore, if stern action is not taken in this regard, it will set a precedent that he can get away with making hate speeches, which will be damaging to the very secular fabric and constitutional ethos of our nation,” states the complaint, according to the report.

Earlier this month, several videos which showed Chavhanke at the event were circulated on social media. In the videos, he could be heard saying that “in order to make this country a Hindu nation and to keep it a Hindu nation, and to move forward, we will fight, die and kill, if required.” The complaint mentions the statements Chavhanke made while administering the oath.

According to the report, the complaint states that the actions amount to cognisable offences under Sections 124A, 153A, 153B, 295A, 295A, 298, 505(1), 505(2) and 120 B of Indian Penal Code, 1860; Section 66A, 69, 59A Rule 3(2)(b), Rule 3(2)(i) of Information Technology Act, 2000 as well as Section 2(f) , 10, 11, 12 of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, among other offences.

Apart from this, there is also mention of another event which was held in Haridwar between December 17 and 19, by Hindutva leader Yati Narasimhanand Saraswati, which also drew attention because of similar hate speeches and open calls for violence against Muslims.