New Delhi: The Supreme Court today questioned the Gujarat government’s decision to file an FIR against Congress MP Imran Pratapgarhi over his poem, asserting that “creativity is important” and that the poem does not target any religious community.
Mr. Pratapgarhi had been booked under sections related to promoting enmity after sharing his poem “Aye khoon ke pyaason baat suno” on social media. The Gujarat High Court had refused to quash the case, prompting him to approach the Supreme Court.
A bench comprising Justice Abhay S Oka and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan remarked that the High Court had failed to grasp the true essence of the poem. “Please apply your mind. It’s ultimately a poem, and it promotes non-violence, not hatred,” Justice Oka told the Gujarat government’s counsel.
Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, representing Mr. Pratapgarhi, argued that the FIR was filed with “malicious intent” to harass the MP. The bench has now given the state three weeks to respond.
Last month, the Supreme Court had stayed any action against the Congress leader. The case has drawn criticism, with many viewing it as a crackdown on artistic and political expression.
