In Twitter video, rebel AAP MLA Kapil Mishra calls Barkha Dutt, Shehla Rashid 'traitors', says they should be 'dragged out of homes'

Rebel Aam Adami Party MLA Kapil Mishra is in the news again — this time, for declaring in a video on Twitter that “we will wage a war against traitors” for their anti-national comments. In the clip, he sings that they “should be dragged out of their homes onto the streets”. Mishra also calls for violence against actors Naseeruddin Shah and Kamal Haasan, Congress minister Navjot Singh Sidhu, lawyer Prashant Bhushan, journalist Barkha Dutt and activist Shehla Rashid. He mentions an article in The Caravan magazine, which was a caste-based profiling of the jawans killed in the Pulwama terror attack, and also says there are some reports that called stone pelters innocent.

The 2.18-minute clip posted on Twitter on Sunday has since had over 46,000 views. In the video, Mishra says, “One Barkha (Dutt) tries to shift attention away from Pulwama and another Swara (Bhaskar) tries to defame the country… a Naseeruddin (Shah) says our country is reeling under terror… But the very next day goes to Karachi wagging his tail.” He goes on to attack Haasan, Bhushan and Rashid for their “anti-nationalist” stance. “Kamal Haasan talks about plebiscite while Shehla (Rashid) spreads fake news against India. (Prashant) Bhushan opens the court at night and Sidhu (Navjot Singh) talks about peace in the battleground. We have to wage a war against them, enter their houses. These traitors should be dragged out of their houses on to the streets.” Hours after Mishra shared the video, activist Kavita Krishnan called the rebel AAP leader a bully and asked whether the police would take action against him for his remarks.

This video on @Twitter @TwitterIndia & @YouTube by a Delhi MLA calls for mobs to drag several individuals - including me - out of our homes and lynch us. Wonder if the platforms & @IPSMadhurVerma will act. Btw Kapil Mishra you're a petty bully & I'm not scared of u or your mobs! https://t.co/8WO9SVFCp8

— Kavita Krishnan (@kavita_krishnan) February 25, 2019

She goes on to add how his patriotism is a “big farce”, and that “talking to Pakistan does not make anyone anti-national” but calling for lynchings does.

Also - @KapilMishra_IND trolls himself 😂
Proves his patriotism that incites lynchings against us is a 'big farce'.
PS- his reasons are wrong. Talking to Pakistan does not make anyone anti national. Calling for lynchings of activists and citizens who counter communalism, does! pic.twitter.com/vlQe4PTO6P

— Kavita Krishnan (@kavita_krishnan) February 25, 2019

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Mishra’s video comes amid reports on right-wing groups attacking people for posting “ anti-national ” comments on social media, especially Kashmiri students across the country since the Pulwama terror attack on 14 February. More than 30 people, mostly Kashmiri students studying in various parts of the country, have been booked for “anti-India” posts since the suicide attack. In Uttar Pradesh’s Aligarh eight students were booked for objectionable posts on social media. Four others from the National Institute of Medical Science in Jaipur were also arrested, even as similar cases were reported from Ambala, Chandigarh and Patna. Journalist Barkha Dutt, in a tweet, has requested the Prime Minister’s Office for action and a jail term for Mishra. She also said that his Twitter account must be scrapped.  

What a revolting man. This is direct incitement to violence and lynchijg and merits a jail term and account being scrapped ASAP cc @IndEditorsGuild @ShekharGupta @capt_amarinder @NCWIndia @rajnathsingh @HMOIndia @acjoshi @RSF_inter @jack @CPJAsia

— barkha dutt (@BDUTT) February 25, 2019

Dutt’s reply came hours after Shehla Rashid tagged Deputy Commissioner of the Delhi Police Madhur Varma, calling his attention to Mishra’s comment.

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However, filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri seems to have come out in support of action against “ant-nationals” in a satirical post.

Hey @BDUTT and @Shehla_Rashid immediately write to Delhi Police, Pakistan Police, Chinese police and Jack to arrest (Late) Kavi Pradip, Maana Dey and Rajendra Kumar for this song.

I am surprised how did they know?

Did @KapilMishra_IND inform them?

https://t.co/2Nv9qsGDVS

— Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri (@vivekagnihotri) February 25, 2019

A complaint was subsequently lodged with the Commissioner of Police, Delhi, Amulya Patnaik on Monday by Ashish Joshi, controller of communications accounts at the Uttarakhand telecommunications department. It says Mishra’s video warrants action for “hate mongering” under section 153 A of the Indian Penal Code. The complaint also said that Mishra’s clip “violated” Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s direction not to attack Kashmiris.

This is not the first time Mishra’s comments have stirred a controversy. Only a few days ago, he was involved in a Twitter spat with actor Swara Bhaskar after he posted sexist and derogatory comments about her. She had called Mishra a “pervert elected representative”.