Is There an FIR Against Islamic Cleric for Insulting Dimple Yadav?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- FIR filed against Maulana Sajid Rashidi for derogatory remarks.
- Comments deemed inflammatory and misogynistic.
- Complaint initiated by SP leader Pravesh Yadav.
- Legal sections invoked include anti-women remarks.
- Widespread condemnation from political and public spheres.
Lucknow, July 28 (NationPress) The Lucknow Police have lodged an FIR against Islamic cleric Maulana Sajid Rashidi for purportedly making offensive, inflammatory, and misogynistic comments directed at Samajwadi Party (SP) leader and Lok Sabha MP Dimple Yadav.
The controversial remarks were made during his appearance on a television channel and various public forums.
The complaint was submitted on Saturday by SP leader Pravesh Yadav, a resident of Vikalp Khand in Gomtinagar, as confirmed by police late on Sunday.
In his written grievance, Yadav accused the cleric of making derogatory and indecent statements on media platforms that not only tarnished the personal dignity of a woman but also had the potential to incite religious and communal discord in society.
According to Pravesh Yadav, Maulana Sajid's remarks were not merely an affront to Dimple Yadav but an insult to all women.
"This has not only wounded the dignity of a woman, but every woman in society is impacted by such remarks. Such indecent and anti-women statements made from a public platform like a TV channel can disrupt social harmony," he asserted.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (East Zone) Shashank Singh confirmed that an FIR has been filed at Vibhutikhand police station under Sections 79 (outraging modesty of women), 196 (promoting enmity between groups), 299 (outraging religious sentiments), and 352 (intentional insult) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with Section 67 of the Information Technology Act.
The FIR was registered late on Sunday, and investigations are currently in progress.
The uproar began after Maulana Sajid Rashidi's comments during a televised debate, where he criticized MP Dimple Yadav for appearing in public without a head covering, followed by a derogatory remark that ignited widespread outrage.
This statement, aimed at the Mainpuri MP, received severe backlash from SP leaders and the general public alike.
The cleric's remarks were reportedly based on images from a Samajwadi Party meeting held at the Sansad Marg mosque in Delhi.
The meeting was attended by Dimple Yadav, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, and MP Iqra Hasan. Rashidi’s comments on these images, which circulated on social media and news channels, led to a storm of criticism.
Numerous political parties and social organizations have denounced his statements, labeling them as anti-women and insensitive. They have also called for stringent legal action against the cleric for his remarks, which many perceive as not only regressive but also likely to incite communal tensions.