Bagalkot: Police arrested a 25-year-old woman for posting best wishes on Pakistan Republic Day on her WhatsApp status in Mudhol on Thursday.
Kuthma Sheikh, a resident of Mudhol town and a student at local Madrasa put up WhatsApp status conveying Pakistan Republic Day wishes on Wednesday March 23, when Pakistan celebrates its Republic Day.
As reported by the New Indian Express, action was initiated based on the complaint made by a person identified as Arun Bhajantri.
Kuthma Shaikh’s WhatsApp status read ‘Allah Har Mulk me Ittihaad…Aman…Sukoon…Ata Farma Maula’ (may Allah grant unity, peace and harmony in every country). Along with the message she had put up a photo conveying wishes to Pakistan on its Republic Day.
Police booked her under section 153(A) (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence) and 505(2) (Statements creating or promoting enmity, hatred or ill-will between classes) of Indian Penal Code (IPC).
The incident raises a question whether greeting the neighbouring country or its people amounts to promoting enmity hatred or ill-will?
It is a tradition that Indian troops greet their Pakistani counterparts on their nation’s Independence Day and exchanged sweets along the Line of Control (LoC) and the International Border (IB) in Jammu and Kashmir.
Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi writes a letter to his Pakistani counterpart extending greetings to people of the country on the occasion of Pakistan Day and its independence day. It is a routine letter which is sent every year.
https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/pm-congratulates-pakistan-on-its-independence-day
Such greetings and wishes build cordial relations with the people of neighbouring country even if it is a rival country.
Arresting a woman on extending greetings to the people of neighbouring country and putting her behind the bars is itself an effort to promote enmity, hatred or ill-will between people on the ground of place of birth and religion.
