Lucknow police have registered a sedition case against folk singer and poet Neha Singh Rathore following a complaint over her social media posts, where she alleged that the Modi government and BJP were politicising the Pahalgam attack for electoral gains, reported the Maktoob Media.
According to PTI, the complaint was lodged by Abhay Pratap Singh, who accused Rathore of using her X handle @nehafolksinger to share “objectionable posts” that could harm national integrity and allegedly incite tensions between communities on religious grounds.
The FIR was filed at Hazratganj police station in Lucknow. Authorities said Rathore has been booked under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) — including charges related to promoting sectarian hatred, disturbing public order, and endangering the sovereignty, unity, and integrity of India. She also faces charges under the Information Technology Act.
While the newly implemented BNS omits the term “sedition” (previously defined under IPC Section 124A), it incorporates similar offenses under Section 152, dealing with threats to the nation’s unity and sovereignty.
In her post dated April 23, Rathore criticized the Narendra Modi-led government, accusing it of politicizing tragedies along caste and religious lines. She further alleged that the BJP sought to garner votes by invoking incidents like the Pulwama attack, warning that the same tactic could be employed following the Pahalgam attack.
On April 26, Rathore reiterated her stance, posting, “I will say this again and again that if Bihar elections are fought on the issue of Pahalgam, then Bihar’s own issues will be sidelined.”
