The Supreme Court questioned why a poem by Congress MP Imran Pratapgarhi, which conveys the “suffering of injustice with love,” prompted the Gujarat Police to file a criminal case against him. The charges accuse him of inciting animosity among people based on caste and religion.
Pratapgarhi, who is also a poet, approached the court seeking to quash the criminal charges filed against him for posting his poem “Ae khoon ke pyase baat suno” (“You blood-thirsty people, listen up”). He was accused of promoting communal disharmony.
Pratapgarhi is a charismatic figure whose eloquence in politics and revolutionary poetry has inspired many. A versatile politician and a master of words, his speeches resonate with power and passion, leaving a lasting impact on his audiences.
Born into a conservative family in Pratapgarh, he earned a master’s degree in Hindi from Allahabad University. According to a media outlet, he was initially drawn to journalism, but his true calling as a poet soon emerged.
Starting with Hindi poetry, he transitioned to Urdu in 2008, quickly gaining recognition for his thought-provoking works like Madrasa, Ham Musalman Hain, Main Falasteen Hun, Kashmir, and Manipur. His poetic prowess and political acumen have made him one of the most compelling voices in contemporary discourse.
A Bench of Justices AS Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan observed that the poem was a reference to non-violence, a path followed by Mahatma Gandhi. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing Gujarat, dismissed the poem as “sadak chaap” (cheap) and objected to the comparison with Gandhi. “Please do not compare him [Pratapgarhi] with Mahatma Gandhi,” Mehta urged.
Justice Oka responded by questioning whether, 75 years after the Constitution’s adoption, the police still misunderstood the fundamental right to free speech and expression. He also noted a troubling trend of stifling creativity and art. “Nobody has any respect for creativity. If you read this poem plainly, it says that even if we suffer injustice, we will endure it with love,” Justice Oka said.
The court expressed concern over the registration of an FIR based on this poem, calling it a serious matter. “Some sensibility has to be shown by the police. They should at least have read the poem and understood it… That is respect for free speech and expression,” Justice Oka told Mehta.
Mehta countered that the poem could be interpreted in many ways, suggesting it might be too much to ask a policeman to interpret it. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing Pratapgarhi, humorously remarked that his client’s poems could also be seen as “sadak chaap.”
The court has reserved its judgment on Pratapgarhi’s plea to quash the FIR. Earlier, the Gujarat High Court had rejected his request in January.
The FIR was lodged following a complaint about an edited video featuring the MP with the poem playing in the background. The 46-second video, uploaded by Pratapgarhi on X, showed flower petals falling on him as he waved his hands. The FIR claimed the lyrics were provocative, harmful to national unity, and hurt religious sentiments.
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