FIR against AIMIM leader Waris Pathan over ’15 crore Muslims…’ remark

An FIR has been filed against AIMIM leader Waris Pathan for his statement that 15 crore Muslims are more than a match for the country’s 100 crore Hindus.

The FIR has been filed in Karnataka’s Kalaburagi. Pathan has been booked under sections 117 (abetting commission of an offence by the public), 153 (provocation with intent to cause riot) and 153A (promoting enmity between different groups) of the Indian Penal Code.

The FIR was filed on a complaint by a private lawyer.

Pathan has been widely condemned for reportedly stating that “15 crore hain lekin 100 crore pe bhari hain”.

“We have to move together. We have to take Azadi (freedom), things that we don’t get by asking, we have to take it by force, remember it…(We maybe) 15 crore, but are heavy on 100 (crore), remember it,” Pathan can be heard purportedly saying in a video of his speech that has gone viral.

#WATCH AIMIM leader Waris Pathan: …They tell us that we've kept our women in the front – only the lionesses have come out&you're already sweating. You can understand what would happen if all of us come together. 15 cr hain magar 100 ke upar bhaari hain, ye yaad rakh lena.(15.2) pic.twitter.com/KO8kqHm6Kg

— ANI (@ANI) February 20, 2020

He purportedly made these comments while addressing an anti-Citizenship Amendment Act rally in Kalaburagi in north Karnataka on February 16. The AIMIM leader has claimed he was quoted out of context.

The All India Majlis-e- Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (AIMIM) said that it will seek an explanation from its leader Waris Pathan over his alleged remarks.

AIMIM’s Maharashtra unit chief and Aurangabad MP Imtiyaz Jaleel said, “Our party does not support the statement made by Waris Pathan. The party will seek an explanation from him over the remarks.”

“If needed, we will come out with a set of dos and don’ts for the party workers to be while giving a speech,” he said.