Urdu poet Munawwar Rana booked for remarks on France killings

Luknow: Renowned Urdu poet Munawwar Rana charged for remarks on France killings. Rana was accused of justifying the beheading of a teacher in France who displayed the caricature of Prophet Muhammed.

The complaint was registered by sub-inspector Deepak Kumar Pandey, who alleged that Rana in a television interview made objectionable comments. "The statements are potentially promoting enmity between different communities, can have adverse effects on social harmony and disrupt peace", said the FIr as per media reports. An FIR has been registered at the Hazratganj police station in Lucknow.

According to the reports Rana has been booked under sections 153 A , 295 A, 298, 505 1B of the IPC along with sections of the Information Technology Act.

He told the television channel, "If someone makes a cartoon of my father, or a disgusting cartoon of my mother, I will kill that person. If someone makes a cartoon of Indian Gods like Mother Sita or Lord Ram, which is disgusting, objectionable and regrettable, I will kill that person. When honor killing has been considered acceptable in India for thousands of years and there is no punishment, then how can you call this illegitimate."

After registering FIR Rana said he stood by his statement, "I'm not scared by a minor sub-inspector registering an FIR against me". He told to News agency ANI that he was anticipating an FIR. He reiterated that while killing people is bad, making such cartoons is worse.

Rana was referring to the attacks in Paris after a teacher showed cartoons of Prophet Mohammad for the controversial satarical magazine Charlie Hebdo, during a discussion on freedom of expression. This was followed by attacks by some extremists. While Rana condemned the killings and use of Prophet Mohammad sketches, he said would also have acted in the same manner.