In a sensational case, Kamlesh Tiwari, the working president of Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha and founder of Hindu Samaj Party has been murdered at his home in Lucknow, UP.
Kamlesh Tiwari came into fame due to his comment on Muhammed. As per the Wikipedia article:
On 2 December 2015, Azam Khan, a senior Muslim politician of the Samajwadi Party of India, stated that Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh members are homosexuals and that is why they do not get married. The next day, Kamlesh Tiwari retaliated to Azam Khan's statement and called Muhammad as the first homosexual in the world. 100,000 Muslims in Muzaffarnagar demanded death penalty for Tiwari, with some demanding that he be "beheaded" for “insulting” Muhammad. Tiwari was arrested in Lucknow on 3 December 2015 by the then Samajwadi Party government. Protest rallies against his statement were held by several Islamic groups in other parts of India, most of them demanding death by hanging of Tiwari.
Tiwari spent several months in jail for his remark on Muhammad. A case under IPC sections 153-A (promoting enmity between groups on the grounds of religion and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony) and 295-A (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) was registered against him at Naka Hindola police station, Lucknow. The protests demanding capital punishment for Tiwari triggered counter protests by Hindu groups who accused Muslim groups of demanding enforcement of Islamic law of blasphemy in India. Tiwari's detention by the Uttar Pradesh government under National Security Act was later revoked by Allahabad High Court in 2016 and he was released on bail.
From the manner in which he was abused, harassed, booked, jailed and finally murdered merely for exercising his freedom of speech, is appalling. It has been said by many that it appears that the freedom of speech is only for the religious minorities in India. But when it comes to Hindus, the moment they say something provocative, even if factually correct, they are booked. This should not happen. Everyone, be it from the majority or minority religion should be able to enjoy the same freedom of speech.
Kamlesh Tiwari was provided with security but as per the reports the assailants had befriended him under false identity and hence they were able to get into his house. Still, the basics of security would say that the security guard should have frisked the visitors and if he did that, he would have found guns and knives with the visitors and this would have prevented the murder. Therefore, just because they assailants were known to Kamlesh Tiwari, this does not become an excuse for the administration and local government.
All the culprits involved in the murder and conspiracy should be arrested and punished by the law as soon as possible. If there were political parties or political leaders involved, they should be brought to books too. This is essential for restoring the faith of people in our law and order and constitution provided freedom of speech.
