Nupur Sharma, a former spokesperson for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) who sparked widespread controversy and protests last year over her comments on Prophet Mohammed during a TV debate, has been granted a gun license by Delhi Police for self-protection. Sharma had reportedly been receiving threats to her life, including from an Ajmer Dargah employee who had threatened to slit her throat and a resident of Uttar Pradesh who had threatened to behead her.
In July of last year, the Supreme Court had criticized Sharma for her comments, stating that “she has ignited emotions across the country” and that she was “single-handedly responsible for what is happening in the country.” The judges also noted that Sharma, who is a lawyer with over 10 years of experience, should have immediately apologized for her statements.
The controversy surrounding Sharma’s comments led to multiple instances of violence and threats. At least two killings were linked to the incident. Umesh Kolhe, a pharmacist who had supported Sharma, was killed in Maharashtra’s Amravati in June. Days later, a tailor in Udaipur who had supported Sharma on social media was hacked to death in his shop. Sharma’s lawyer told the Supreme Court that there was “an ever-increasing threat to her safety” and that it was “a real and genuine threat.”
Delhi Police officials have stated that Sharma had requested the gun license for self-protection, citing the ongoing threats to her safety. The grant of a gun license to Sharma has sparked mixed reactions, with some questioning the decision while others argue that it is necessary for her protection.
Nupur Sharma’s case serves as a reminder that the actions and statements of public figures can have real-world consequences, and can even put their own safety at risk. It raises the question of whether or not individuals in the public eye should be held to a higher standard of responsibility for their words and actions.”
