'Secularism Must Be Two-Way Street': Pawan Kalyan Attacks Bengal Govt For Arresting Sharmishta Panoli

Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan has hit out at the West Bengal government for arresting influencer Sharmishta Panoli, saying secularism cannot be a shield for some and a sword for others.

22-year-old Instagram influencer Sharmishta Panoli was arrested by Kolkata police for allegedly posting a communal video, claiming Bollywood actors were silent on Operation Sindoor.

Pawan Kalyan said that the Bengal Police took action against her despite apologising for the video and deleting it. He also questioned why there is no outrage when TMC MPs mock Sanatana Dharma.

"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," Pawan Kalyan said in a post on X.

"But what about the deep, searing pain inflicted upon millions when elected leaders, MPs of TMC, mock Sanatana Dharma? Where is the outrage when our faith is called 'Gandha Dharm'? Where is their apology? Where is their swift arrest?" he added.

However, secularism isn't a shield for some and a sword for others, the deputy CM said, adding that there must be a two-way street.  

What Is The Controversy Around Sharmistha Panoli?

Sharmistha Panoli has been at the centre of a controversy over her communally-charged social media post on Operation Sindoor. 

In her now-deleted social media video, the law student targeted certain Bollywood actors for not speaking up during Operation Sindoor. She also allegedly used derogatory language insulting a particular community and Prophet Muhammad. 

Sharmishta, a resident of Kolkata's Anandapur area, enrolled in Pune's Law University, was arrested in Gurugram on Friday night.

She was produced at a court in Kolkata on Saturday which sent her to judicial custody till June 13 after her bail petition was rejected.

She has been booked under relevant sections for promoting enmity between different groups, malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings, apart from intentional insult, provoking breach of peace, a Kolkata Police officer said.