Janasena Party leader and Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan targeted the West Bengal government and police over the arrest of Instagram influencer Sharmishtha Panoli on Sunday. Targeting West Bengal police, Kalyan said they should "act justly for all".
Backing Panoli, Kalyan tweeted, "During Operation Sindoor, Sharmistha, a law student, spoke out, her words regrettable and hurtful to some. She owned her mistake, deleted the video and apologized. The WB Police swiftly acted, taking action against Sharmistha. But what about the deep, searing pain inflicted upon millions when elected leaders, MPs of TMC, mock Sanatana Dharma?"
The key ally of the Bharatiya Janata Party asked why Trinamool Congress leaders were not arrested when they spoke against the Hindu faith. "Where is the outrage when our faith is called 'Gandha Dharm'? Where is their apology? Where is their swift arrest? Blasphemy must be condemned, always! Secularism isn't a shield for some and a sword for others," he said, adding, "It must be a two-way street. West Bengal Police, the nation is watching. Act justly for all. #IstandwithSharmistha."
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Kalyan's comments come after Kolkata police responded to allegations that Panoli's arrest was unlawful. The 22-year-old student studying at Pune Law University was arrested by Kolkata police on Friday over her alleged communal comments on Operation Sindoor. Though Panoli deleted the video and issued an apology, she was arrested based on a complaint registered with Garden Reach police station.
The BJP charged the Mamata Banerjee government targeted Panoli to "appease a certain votebank". Kolkata police said all legal procedures were duly adhered to while arresting Panoli. "All attempts were made to serve notice, but she was found absconding on every occasion. Consequently, a warrant of arrest was issued by the competent court, following which she was apprehended lawfully from Gurgaon," police said.