UP police file sedition case against content creator for video about Nepal protests

The Uttar Pradesh Police has filed a sedition case against content creator Arpit Sharma under Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita in connection with a video he posted about the protests in Nepal against corruption and misgovernance, The Wire reported on Saturday.

Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita pertains to acts endangering the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India. Critics have described it as a “repackaged version” of the colonial-era sedition law.

The first information report registered on Thursday alleged that Sharma made the video against the backdrop of the demonstrations in Nepal to stoke violence in India and undermine its integrity, The Wire reported.

Nepal was plunged into a political crisis earlier this week after protests against the government’s ban on 26 social media platforms. They later evolved into a broader agitation against alleged corruption and turned violent.

The demonstrations have been described as a protest mainly by “Gen Z”, generally referring to persons born between the late 1990s and 2010.

In the video, posted on X a day after the protests began, Sharma praised Nepal’s youth and asked why Indians were not demonstrating against matters such as corruption and hate speech, the news outlet reported.

He told The Wire: “When I made the video, the protests were peaceful… at no point was I inciting people.”

Since the FIR was filed, Sharma...

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