Uttar Pradesh BJP MLA Rajeshwar Singh has called for the introduction of a dedicated legal framework to address cases of disrespect towards religious texts. In a letter addressed to both the central and state governments, Singh emphasized the inadequacy of the current legal system in addressing incidents involving the desecration of sacred scriptures.
Singh’s proposal involves amending the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) to include a specific section that would penalize the desecration of religious texts with the intent to hurt religious sentiments. Offenders, under this suggested amendment, could face rigorous imprisonment for a maximum of five years and a fine of Rs 1 lakh.
In his communication to Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, Rajeshwar Singh underlined the importance of respecting diverse religious beliefs deeply ingrained in the majority of the population’s value system. He stressed that religious texts, from the holy Bhagwat Gita and Ramcharitmanas to the Quran, Bible, and Guru Granth Sahib, have always been highly regarded in Indian society. Singh argued that such revered texts should never be subjected to insult, necessitating the implementation of a dedicated law.
Additionally, Singh sent a letter to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath titled ‘The need to rework the legislative framework to provide protection to religious texts.’
Rajeshwar Singh represents the Sarojini Nagar assembly constituency of Lucknow and is known for his philanthropic endeavours. He has received numerous awards for his initiatives related to humanitarian causes.
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