FIRs against intellectuals contradict PM Modi's aspirations: Kamal Haasan

Referring to an address made by Modi in the parliament, Haasan tweeted, "The Prime minister seeks a harmonius India. His statements in the parliament confirms it. Should not the state and it's law follow it in letter and spirit? 49 of my peers have been accused, of sedition, contradicting the PM's aspirations."

The Makkal Needhi Maiam chief tweeted, "I request as a citizen that Our Higher courts move in to uphold justice with Democracy and quash the case eminating from Bihar."

Forty nine Intellectuals including filmmakers Adoor Gopalakrishan, Shyam Benegal, Anurag Kashyap, Aparna Sen, Goutam Ghose, Kaushik Sen, actor Soumitra Chatterjee, historian Ram Chandra Guha in late July wrote a letter to Modi saying the slogan in the name of God has become a "war-cry".

Citing the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) reports, which states no less than 840 incidents of atrocities took place only in 2016, the intellectuals said, "The lynching of Muslims, Dalits and minorities must be stopped immediately."

The letter had also highlighted the report claiming 254 religious identity-based hate crimes were reported between Jan 1, 2009 and Oct 29, 2018.

The sedition case was lodged two months after an order was passed by Chief Judicial Magistrate Surya Kant Tiwari couple of months ago in reply to a petition filed by local advocate Sudhir Kumar Ojha.

The police said the FIR was filed under sections of Indian Penal Code (IPC) which include sedition, public nuisance, hurting religious feelings and insulting with an intent to lead to beach of peace, report said.

Earlier Haasan had spoken against Union Home Minister Amit Shah's call for a language of the country.