Delhi riots: Watch all hate speech videos today, report us by tomorrow, Delhi HC tells police

Pulling up the Delhi Police for its inordinate delay in filing FIRs against politicians who delivered hate speeches, the Delhi High Court today asked the Delhi Police to sit and watch all videos of hate speeches made in recent past today. The court said the police must explain why there was such a delay in registering FIRs in cases of hate speech.

The Delhi High Court also asked the Delhi Police to submit a report on the videos of hate speeches before it tomorrow when it will hear the matter again.

The high court was hearing a plea seeking police protection for victims in riot-torn areas of North East Delhi. Twenty-two people have died and close to 200 wounded since Monday when riots broke out in Delhi.

When the court asked the Delhi Police why it has yet not registered FIRs against BJP leaders Kapil Mishra, Parvesh Verma and Anurag Thakur for delivering hate speeches in Delhi, the police said they have not watched clips of these controversial speeches.

This was despite the fact these videos have in the public domain for weeks now.

Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta too told the Delhi High Court he hasn't seen the controversial videos "because he doesn't watch TV".

Replying to this sharply, Justice S Muralidhar said the court doesn't have such privileges to not watch the news.

The high court ordered the court staff to play the three speeches during the hearing so that the Delhi Police and the Tushar Mehta could see them.

Pulling up the Delhi Police, the Delhi High Court asked why it has not registered FIRs against politicians for giving hate speech. The court asked when FIRs are registered for arson and deaths, why are FIRs not being registered for hate speech.