Delhi AAP chief Saurabh Bharadwaj and two other party leaders have been accused of hurting the religious sentiments of the Christian community. They were named in a police FIR for featuring a video that showed Santa Claus wearing a gas mask and portrayed him as “fainted.” The FIR was filed based on a complaint alleging that the video was derogatory towards Santa Claus and offensive to Christians.
The AAP leaders are facing charges under Section 302 of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), which can lead to a maximum punishment of one year. This section aims to prevent intentional acts that hurt religious feelings through words, gestures, or objects. The complaint was lodged by advocate Kushboo George, who claimed that the video was disrespectful towards Santa Claus and linked to a political skit in Central Delhi.
The use of Santa Claus as a prop in the video, where he is shown fainting on the road, was deemed derogatory and intentional in offending Christians. The complaint highlighted that such improper depiction of Santa Claus was seen as mocking the sanctity of Saint Nicholas and Christmas. The incident has sparked criticism, with even the Delhi BJP President calling for a public apology from the AAP leaders for their portrayal of Santa Claus.
