Book Urmila Matondkar for ‘anti-Hindu’ comments, says BJP worker

Mumbai: A Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) worker has registered a complaint with Powai police claiming that Bollywood actor and Congress' Lok Sabha candidate Urmila Matondkar has made anti-Hindu remarks.

According to officials, the worker, Suresh Nakhua, has also blamed Congress president Rahul Gandhi alleging that he has instructed Ms Matondkar to make the “calumnious comments”.

Ms Matondkar is the Congress’ candidate for the Mumbai North Lok Sabha constituency. Mr Nakhua also sought action against journalist Rajdeep Sardesai for allegedly letting the actor make the remarks on his news channel and later telecasting them.

In his compliant, lodged on Saturday, he claimed that such remarks hurt the Hindu community's sentiments. Mr Nakhua submitted the complaint after watching an interview with Ms Matondkar on a television news channel in which she allegedly said, “Hinduism is the most violent religion in the world”.

He also stated that Ms Matondkar's comments were false, mischievous, deceitful and frivolous and alleged they were made with a deliberate motive to cause disharmony among people and malign the country at global level.

“We have received the application. After seeking a legal opinion, we will take further action,” a Powai police station official told a news agency.

The BJP worker, in a tweet, said, "Cong Candidate from Mumbai, Urmila Matondkar says: The religion which has been known for its tolerance has become the most violent!! This is abuse of Hindus!!! (sic)”

He demanded action against Ms Matondkar, Gandhi and Sardesai under sections 295A, 505 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code.

The sections respectively pertain to committing “deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings”, making “statement causing public mischief” and “acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention”.