In a recent development, the National Commission for Scheduled Castes has sent a notice to the Mumbai Police commissioner, inquiring about the possible action against actor Arshad Warsi, who according to a long standing complaint, had allegedly insulted Maharishi Valmiki in his 2016 flick ‘The Legend of Michael Mishra’.
According to the notice, the Mumbai police has to submit, ‘details of action taken under SC/ST Act 1989 as amended latest and rules under it. In case the police fail to produce the report within the stipulated time period of 15 days, the commission will take action under its powers of a civil court.’
In a complaint filed by activist Satish Vaid, who belongs to the NGO Agniveer, Arshad Warsi had insulted Maharishi Valmiki and his followers in his film ‘The Legend of Michael Mishra’, released in 2016. In a clip that was widely shared on social media a couple of weeks ago, Arshad Warsi was seen saying something about Maharishi Valmiki that was offensive to the Valmiki Samaj. Even in the trailer, Arshad could be heard saying ‘Ab hum daku Valmiki se Sant Valmiki banenge’ [Now I will become Saint Valmiki from the dacoit Valmiki].
@Agniveer will not tolerate any nonsense about our Maharishi Valmiki or any other hindu sant/sadhu as our SC/ST cell head @VaidSatish officially filed a complaint to NCSC against @ArshadWarsi for his ill remarks against Maharishi Valmiki and our Sadhus @VashiMant @followsanjeev pic.twitter.com/OB5Nm6mMsv
— Bhim Agniveer (@BhimAgniveer) March 11, 2019
Though atrocious, this is not entirely surprising. Arshad Warsi has been caught on the wrong foot in earlier instances as well. During the Ardh Kumbh Mela, Arshad Warsi had shared the image of a nude Naga Sadhu, and used extremely vulgar references for their community. Following a massive outrage, Arshad not only had to remove the picture, but also was compelled to apologize. Interestingly, it was the same Agniveer who had apparently led the protests against him for the same.
The main reason for such atrocious acts is quite simple: minority appeasement. In their bid to portray themselves as secular, the elite Bollywood has created a new phobia: Hinduphobia. In most of the movies since the early 90s, Hindus are shown in a negative way almost 9 out of 10 times. Even in real life, if a criminal turns out to be Hindu, the elite Bollywood would leave no stone unturned in order to shame the entire Sanatan community for the same. I hope we haven’t forgotten what the ‘Placard Gang’ from elite Bollywood had done during the Kathua rape case.
However, it is good to see that most of the masses have stopped falling for these gimmicks. While unapologetically Hinduphobic movies are shown the door, people like Arshad Warsi are also facing the music for insulting people or symbols related to the Sanatan community. We hope that justice is served soon.