NEW DELHI, Nov. 4 -- A Delhi-based advocate has filed a police complaint against All India Students' Association (AISA) national president Neha Bora over her alleged remarks concerning Brahmin women and temple priests, claiming that the statements could promote hostility and disturb communal harmony.
Advocate Amita Sachdeva on Wednesday said she had sought action against Bora under Section 196 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which deals with promoting enmity between different groups. She warned that she would approach the court if the Delhi Police failed to take appropriate action on her complaint.
Speaking to ANI, Sachdeva said she strongly condemned Bora's remarks, alleging that they could create disharmony between communities. She said the police had assured her that senior officers would be consulted before deciding on further action.
"I learnt about Neha Bora's remarks that Brahmin women are unsafe under Brahmanism. I strongly condemned this. Such statements create hostility and disharmony between communities," Sachdeva said.
The advocate said she would wait for a few days before approaching the Deputy Commissioner of Police if no action was initiated. She added that she would subsequently move the court under Section 175(3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), seeking directions for registration of an FIR.
The complaint follows the circulation of an old video of Bora on social media on November 2, in which she purportedly raised concerns about the safety of Brahmin women under the Brahmanical social system and referred to incidents of sexual violence.
In the video, Bora is heard arguing that women require protection from what she described as the Brahmanical system itself. She alleged that women, including those belonging to Brahmin families, were vulnerable to sexual violence and referred to incidents in Unnao and Kathua while making her argument.
She also made allegations concerning sexual offences committed by temple priests, remarks that subsequently drew criticism from political leaders and religious organisations.
In her complaint, Sachdeva argued that generalising allegations of sexual offences against an entire category of people could damage social harmony and create hostility between different groups.
The lawyer maintained that sexual offences must be investigated and prosecuted under the law, irrespective of the identity or background of the accused, but alleged that attributing such crimes broadly to temple priests could encourage prejudice.
She requested the police to examine the statements, their context, their circulation on electronic platforms and their possible implications for public order.
The controversy intensified after BJP leader Pradeep Bhandari shared the video on social media and criticised Bora's remarks. He also targeted the Congress and Rahul Gandhi, alleging that the statements reflected an anti-Hindu political outlook.
Bhandari accused the Congress leadership of encouraging rhetoric that, according to him, undermined Hindu religious beliefs. His allegations formed part of the political criticism surrounding the video.
Union Minister Chirag Paswan also criticised Bora's comments, saying political leaders should promote social harmony rather than deepen divisions based on caste and religion.
Paswan acknowledged that caste-based and religious discrimination continued to exist in society but argued that public representatives had a responsibility to highlight examples that encouraged unity.
He said the manner in which Bora had spoken about Brahmin women, Brahmanism and Sanatan Dharma reflected what he described as divisive politics.
The controversy has also drawn criticism from the Vishva Hindu Parishad, whose joint secretary Surendra Jain questioned Bora's remarks and accused political leaders associated with the opposition of encouraging statements that could undermine social unity.
Meanwhile, Sachdeva reiterated that her complaint was intended to raise concerns about public tranquillity and was not being pursued on behalf of any particular religious community.
She said the matter should be examined from a law-and-order perspective and urged the authorities to determine whether the statements attracted provisions of criminal law.
There was no confirmed information about the registration of an FIR against Bora at the time of reporting. The police are expected to examine the complaint before deciding whether further legal action is warranted.
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