An FIR has been filed against Samajwadi Party MP Shafiqur Rahman Barq for defending the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan, and equating it with India's own freedom struggle. A case was filed against the Sambhal legislator under Sections 153-A, 124-A and 295- A of the Indian Penal Code. The sections are related to offensive acts in a place of worship, and promoting enmity between different groups through words, signs/other representation, excite dissatisfaction towards the government, and deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting a religion or religious beliefs.
The FIR, filed on Tuesday by Sambhal resident Rajesh Singhal, also named two others, apart from Barq. It alleged that Rehman, by supporting the acts of killing by the Taliban and the manner in which the insurgents took over power in Afghanistan, has shown himself to be a supporter of Taliban.
It is also alleged that Rehman has compared the Taliban to Indian freedom fighters. Responding to questions from reporters on Monday, Barq said the Taliban wanted to free their country and it was Afghanistan's internal matter.
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“This has hurt the feelings of Indians and is a direct insult of our freedom fighters... Barq has supported the Taliban and this has been picked up on social media... it has vilified everything. It has promoted enmity, hate and ill-feelings between communities," the FIR reads. "The Taliban is an extremist right wing group that has been denounced as a terrorist organisation by the Indian government. The Taliban had captured and massacred Indians in Kandahar and groups sent by the Taliban have attacked the country. The extremist group has harassed and made life difficult for girls and women. To celebrate their victory in this manner is treason (sic)," it states.
Barq's remarks drew sharp reactions on Tuesday from Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya, who compared it to Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's comment after Kabul fell to the Taliban. On Monday, the Pakistan prime minister appeared to endorse the Taliban's takeover of Kabul, saying Afghanistan has broken the "shackles of slavery".
