Narsinghanand's remarks against Prophet Muhammad: Mayawati seeks strict legal action
Lucknow: BSP chief Mayawati on Sunday criticised priest Yati Narsinghanand for his alleged hate speech and demanded that the Centre and state government should take strict action against him.
"In Ghaziabad, UP, the Mahant of Dasna Devi Temple once again made hate speeches against Islam, which has created unrest and tension in the entire area and many parts of the country. The police took action against the protesters, but the main culprits remained unpunished," the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister said in a post on X.
1. यूपी के गाजियाबाद में डासना देवी मन्दिर के महंत द्वारा इस्लाम मज़हब के खिलाफ फिर से नफरती बयानबाजी की गयी जिससे उस पूरे इलाके में तथा देश के कई हिस्सों में भी अशान्ति व तनाव की स्थिति उत्पन्न है। पुलिस द्वारा प्रदर्शनकारियों के खिलाफ तो कार्रवाई की गयी किन्तु मूल दोषी भयमुक्त।
— Mayawati (@Mayawati) October 6, 2024
"While the Indian Constitution guarantees secularism, that is, equal respect for all religions. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the central and state governments to take strict legal action against those who violate it so that there is peace in the country and development is not hindered," she said in another post.
Narsinghanand has been booked for hate speech after he allegedly made objectionable remarks against Prophet Muhammad that sparked protests in Ghaziabad and other states.
A large crowd had gathered outside the Dasna Devi temple in the district where he presides to protest against him on Friday night after videos of his inflammatory remarks appeared online following which security was stepped up around the premises.
Narsinghanand has several cases against him, including for allegedly making a hate speech at a conclave in Haridwar in December 2021, and was out on bail.
An FIR had been lodged against 150 people on the complaint of Sub-Inspector Bhanu, the in-charge of Dasna police outpost, at the Wave City police station over the protest outside the Dasna temple on Friday.
An FIR was registered against the priest in Maharashtra's Amravati city on Saturday, which saw violent protests against his remarks outside the Nagpuri Gate police station in which 21 police personnel were injured and 10 police vans were damaged during stone pelting by a mob on Friday night, according to officials.
A case under BNS sections 299 (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs), 302 (intentionally uttering words to deliberately wound the religious sentiments of another person), 197 (actions that harm national integration) and others was registered against Narsinghanand at the Nagpuri Gate police station over his alleged objectionable remarks, the police said.
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Woman in labour dies while being transported in ambulance lacking oxygen support
Palghar (PTI): A 26-year-old pregnant woman from Maharashtra's Palghar district died while being taken to hospital in an ambulance which was not equipped with oxygen and other necessary facilities, authorities said on Wednesday.
Palghar's Civil Surgeon Dr Ramdas Marad said the health department has repeatedly raised concerns with authorities about the lack of specialised ambulances in the region.
The woman, who was in labour pain, was brought to a rural hospital here in a critical state on Tuesday evening.
"If she had come earlier, we could have saved her," the health official said.
Palghar Lok Sabha member Dr Hemant Savara said the health department should take necessary action into the matter and ambulance services should have adequate facilities.
Pinki Dongarkar, resident of Sarni village, went into labour on Tuesday evening.
Her family immediately rushed her to Kasa rural hospital, but due to the critical nature of her condition, the staff there referred her to neighbouring Silvassa city (in the Union territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu) for further medical attention.
However, despite frantic attempts by her family to secure an ambulance equipped with oxygen and necessary medical facilities through the '108' emergency service, their requests went unanswered, a health official said.
They were eventually provided with a regular ambulance by the Kasa rural hospital.
While en route to Silvassa, the woman succumbed to complications and the foetus also did not survive, health officials confirmed.
Dr Marad said the woman was brought to the Kasa rural hospital in a critical state.
According to him, the woman suffered from a condition called Intrauterine Fetal Death (IUFD), where the foetus died in the womb. The exact time of the foetal death could not be determined.
Upon arrival at the hospital, the woman was semi-conscious and showed signs of severe infection.
On issues with the 108 emergency ambulance services, which are privately operated, Dr Marad said the ambulance might have been unavailable due to high demand.
The health department has repeatedly raised concerns with authorities about the lack of specialised ambulances in the region, he said.
Talking to PTI, Palghar BJP MP Savara said, "This is a very sad incident. The health department should take necessary action in this connection. Also, such an incident should not happen in future for this reason."
"The ambulance services should have adequate oxygen and cardiac support facilities. Also, a doctor is required to accompany the patient. I will follow it up with the government," he said.
CPI (M) leader Vinod Nikole, the newly-elected assembly member from Dahanu in Palghar, said he had raised the issue in the House during his last term, but no action was taken.
He criticised the government over "indifference" towards improving healthcare facilities, particularly in tribal areas, and accused the state of prioritising other programmes, such as the Ladki Bahin Yojana, over the urgent needs of healthcare in rural regions.
