Poet Compares Valmiki To Taliban, FIR Lodged

Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh police have registered an FIR against Urdu poet Munawwar Rana for allegedly hurting religious sentiments by comparing Valmiki, who wrote the Ramayana, with the Taliban, an official said.

The case was registered against Rana in Guna on Monday following a complaint a BJP leader in MP, Sunil Malviya, and members of the Valmiki community.

Talking to a TV channel, Rana had said, “Valmiki became a saint after he wrote the Ramayana, before that he was a dacoit. A person’s character can change. Similarly, the Taliban, for now, are terrorists, but people and characters change.”

Reacting to Rana’s comment, Malviya told the media: “He compared Maharshi Valmiki with the Taliban and hurt the religious feelings of Hindus. So, we have filed a complaint against him.”

SP (Guna) Rajiv Mishra said, “A case was registered against Rana at Kotwali police station. The case will be forwarded to the district concerned (Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh).”