SC’s apology order to Priyanka Sharma sends wrong message: Poonam Mahajan

BJP leader Poonam Mahajan addresses a press conference at the party's headquarter in New Delhi on May 14, 2019. (Photo: IANS)


After the Supreme Court granted bail to BJP activist and Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) member Priyanka Sharma on Tuesday, Poonam Mahajan, the BJYM chief, while welcoming the decision, said that the top court’s direction to Priyanka Sharma to tender an apology will send out a wrong message.

“I am grateful to the Supreme Court for her (Sharma’s) immediate release, but the direction to tender an apology sends out a wrong message on the question of free speech,” Mahajan said after Priyanka Sharma was granted bail.

Priyanka Sharma was arrested on May 10 and remanded to 14 days judicial custody after she was accused of sharing a photo of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on social media.

Poonam Mahajan, hitting out at Mamata Banerjee, described her as “Hitler Didi” and said, “How are political leaders like Mamata Didi whom we openly call ‘Hitler Didi’, using their power for political gains and to massage their own egos.

“There was anarchy in West Bengal and anyone who questioned the state government was put behind bars. The people of the state will give a befitting reply on May 23 when the Lok Sabha election results come out,” she said.

Sharma was arrested on May 10 for allegedly uploading and sharing a morphed picture of Banerjee which had her face photoshopped on Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra’s Met Gala look.