Anti-Romeo squad row: Prashant Bhushan calls Lord Krishna 'legendary eve teaser', BJP files complaint

Lawyer and Swaraj Abhiyan founder Prashant Bhushan stirred up a firestorm on social media after weighing in on the Uttar Pradesh government’s “anti-Romeo squads”, which are supposed to curb harassment of women.

According to a report in The Times of India, Bhushan, a public interest lawyer and founder of Swaraj Abhiyan, said certain deities were looked upon fondly even though they were “eve teasers”. Bhushan was responding to a tweet by Anupam, a colleague from Swaraj India.

My tweet on Romeo brigade being distorted. My position is: By the logic of Romeo Brigade, even Lord Krishna would look like eve teaser.

— Prashant Bhushan (@pbhushan1) April 2, 2017

Bhushan’s comment drew the ire of many people on social media, including Delhi BJP leader Tajinder Bagga.

Filing A police complaint today against Prashant Bhushan for insulting Lord Krishna https://t.co/JCCdkpbGsa

— Tajinder Bagga (@TajinderBagga) April 2, 2017

Bhushan then attempted to clarify his position:

My tweet on Romeo brigade being distorted. My position is: By the logic of Romeo Brigade, even Lord Krishna would look like eve teaser.

— Prashant Bhushan (@pbhushan1) April 2, 2017

We have grown up with legends of young Krishna teasing Gopis.The logic of Romeo squad would criminalise this.Didnt intend to hunt sentiments

— Prashant Bhushan (@pbhushan1) April 2, 2017

Bagga then filed a complaint against Bhushan at the Tilak Marg police station, Hindustan Times reported. However, the police are yet to register an FIR. In his plaint, Bagga accused Bhushan of “intentionally and deliberately” posting “derogatory remarks ….for the purpose of insulting and outraging the religious sentiments of Hindu community”. “After we filed compliant, he is giving clarification. But we will not withdraw the complaint unless he tenders an apology. Even in the past he made such comments. His latest statement has hurt millions of people living in this country,” he said, according to the Hindustan Times report. [caption id=“attachment_3364388” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Prashant Bhushan. PTI file image[/caption] Zee News quoted Bagga as saying it was Bhushan’s habit to make these sorts of statements to gain publicity. “This is not the first time that he (Prashant Bhushan) has given these kinds of statements. At times he says Kashmir should be given to Pakistan and at times he gives statements on Bharatiya Sena and then at times he says the Bharatiya Sena rapes. Then he alleges that the Bharatiya Sena thrashes the innocents,” he added. BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said crores of Indians are hurt by Bhushan’s statement, adding that the latter must tender an apology, Zee News reported. On Saturday, three policemen were suspended after a video of some persons shaving the head of a youth, who was roaming with a female friend, in their presence went viral on social media. The incident took place on 22 March after the residents of South City Colony called police on finding a youth and a girl roaming around together, SP KV Singh said. They caught hold of the youth and shaved off his hair despite three constables of the Azizganj police post being present there. One of the constables captured the incident on his mobile phone camera, the SP said. It was when the constable sent the video to his friend through WhatsApp that it went viral and the incident came to light, the SP said. The three constables — Suhel Ahmed, Layek Ahmed and Sonpal — have been put under suspension. Besides, an inquiry has been ordered against the in-charge of Azizganj police post, KK Chaudhary, who allegedly tried to hush up the matter, Singh said. The Yogi Adityanath government has issued clear directions to police and administration to ensure that youngsters are not troubled unnecessarily in the name of curbing eve-teasing and action is taken against self-proclaimed “anti-Romeo” squads indulging in moral policing. With inputs from PTI