New Delhi: The Delhi Police has lodged an FIR against self-proclaimed Hindutva leader Ragini Tiwari, days after a video of her threatening to turn the ongoing farmers’ protest into “another Jafrabad” went viral.
The FIR was registered on 16 December by the Northeast district police, under Section 153 (wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot) of the Indian Penal Code.
A Delhi Police official, who did not wish to be named, told ThePrint, “An FIR was lodged after a police personnel registered a complaint against Ragini Tiwari over her video alleging that she was not only threatening but also provoking people for violence.”
He added that Tiwari’s alleged role in instigating the February riots in Northeast Delhi will also be probed.
However, speaking to ThePrint Wednesday, Tiwari said that she had no knowledge of the FIR. She added that the police had called her about a week ago regarding her video.
Also read: BJP ally Hanuman Beniwal quits 3 parliamentary panels in support of farmers’ stir
Tiwari’s viral video
In a video that has been viral since 12 December, Tiwari threatened to turn the ongoing farmers’ protest on the Delhi-Haryana border into “another Jafrabad”.
“If the government doesn’t get rid of the farmers’ protest by 16 December, then on 17 February, Ragini Tiwari will create another Jafrabad and again clear the roads. Whatever happens, the Centre, the state government and the Delhi Police will be responsible. My sisters get ready… Nationalists, come out and support me,” the 48-year-old said.
North-East Delhi’s Jafrabad had become the epicenter of the Hindu-Muslim riots in February this year, which killed 53 people.
The video led to widespread outrage, with several social media posts demanding action against her.
This, however, is not the first time Tiwari has threatened violence.
On 22 February, anti-CAA protesters had started an agitation in the middle of the streets in Jafrabad. A day later, BJP leader Kapil Mishra threatened that if the police failed to clear out protesters from the site, he and his supporters would do so.
The same day, Tiwari had done a Facebook live video near Delhi’s Maujpur, where she had said, “Enough attacks on Sanatana (Hinduism). We won’t tolerate such attacks anymore. Hindus, come out. Die or kill. Rest shall be seen later. If your blood hasn’t boiled even now, it’s not blood but it is water.”
The following day, riots broke out in Northeast Delhi and lasted three days.
Also read: From freedom movement to Emergency & Anna’s IAC – India has a history of volatile protests