New Delhi, Apr 27 (UNI) Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Samar Vishal on Saturday, after hearing a criminal complaint, issued summons against Indian National Congress leader Shashi Tharoor to appear in court on June 7 over his alleged remarks that an unnamed Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh leader had compared Prime Minister Narendra Modi to "a scorpion sitting on a Shivling".
A criminal defamation complaint was filed by Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party leader Rajeev Babbar against Mr Tharoor by submitting that his religious sentiments were hurt by the statement of the Congress party leader. He submitted that Mr Tharoor had claimed in October last year that an unnamed RSS leader had compared Prime Minister Modi to "a scorpion sitting on a Shivlinga".
The complaint said, "I am a devotee of Lord Shiva.... However, the accused (Mr Tharoor) completely disregarded the sentiments of crores of Shiva devotees and made the statement which hurt the sentiments of all Lord Shiva devotees in India and outside the country." He further said," The accused deliberately did this malicious act, intending to outrage the religious feelings of Lord Shiva devotees by insulting their religious belief".
Mr Babbar filed the defamation complaint as defined under sections 499 and 500 of the Indian Penal Code by describing statement of Mr Tharoor as an "intolerable abuse" and "absolute vilification" of the faith of millions of people.
He said "The man says Modi is like a scorpion sitting on a Shivaling. You cannot remove him with a hand and you cannot hit it with a chappal either".
UNI XC RP1827