Kolkata: Multiple FIRs were lodged against BJP's Haringhata MLA Asim Sarkar for disrespecting the Quran, prompting Bengal BJP to distance itself from the MLA's comments.
Sarkar made the comment last week and it went viral on social media.
Bengal minister of state for power Akhruzzaman filed a complaint against Sarkar at Raghunathganj police station. Another complaint was lodged at Basanti police station.
In a complaint lodged at Shamsherganj police station, Trinamool MLA Amirul Islam said, "A video clip went viral and Sarkar is seen making derogatory, uncouth statements. He tried to demean Islam and it seems that he did that deliberately. It is also clear that he tried to intentionally hurt the sentiments of Muslims. Being a representative of people, he should have shown restraint in his comments."
The Social Democratic Party of India has also lodged a complaint against Sarkar at Domkal police station. Jamaat-e-Islami Hind condemned Sarkar's statement, terming it "unconstitutional", "insulting" and "unparliamentary".
Referring to Sarkar's statement, BJP's Bongaon MP and junior Union minister Shantanu Thakur said, "Asim Sarka made a remark and we don't want to comment on that. I hope that he reads things before speaking on them."