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Swarajya Staff
Feb 03, 2020, 01:06 PM | Updated 01:06 PM IST
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Senior Maharashtra BJP leader and former Mumbai MP Kirit Somiaya on Monday (3 February) filed a complaint against participants of Queer Azaadi Mumbai Pride parade participants who were caught on camera raising slogans in support of radical Islamist Sharjeel Imam who has been arrested on charges of making seditious statements at Delhi’s Shaheen Bagh.
BJP leader Kirit Somaiya: I have filled a complaint with Mumbai Police on anti-national slogans raised in support of Sharjeel Imam during Mumbai Pride Parade on 1 Feb.
— ANI (@ANI) February 3, 2020
Uddhav Thackeray govt is putting pressure on police to not register FIR in this matter. pic.twitter.com/lwCOZ9YkwB
In the event which was held on 1 February, a group of participants started raising radical slogans and chanted ‘ Sharjeel Tere Sapno Ko Manjil Tak Pahuchayenge’ (We will fulfill your dreams, Sharjeel).
In the video that has gone viral, a group of people can be heard chanting radical slogans while also raising ‘Jai Bheem’ flags.
"Sharjeel Tere Sapno Ko Manjil Tak Pahuchayenge".
— Yoshað (@Blackdrug_) February 1, 2020
I have zero sympathy for these pride flag holder. They are anti-nationals. They are sloganeering to fulfill the breaking-India dreams of radical Sharjeel Imam.
Anyone who stands with these intellectual terr@rits is a shame. pic.twitter.com/xAv8WaZhAN
This led to intense outrage on social media and many members of the LGBT+ community too condemned this act. The organisers of the pride march have also since then dissociated themselves from the controversial sloganeering.
Kirit Somaiya who has now filed a complaint against these sloganeers has also alleged that the Uddhav Thackeray led state government is shielding them by putting pressure on the police not to register an FIR in the matter.