Who Is Neha Singh Rathore, Folk Singer & Political Satirist Booked For Sedition Over Posts On Pahalgam Terror Attack?
New Delhi: Folk singer and political satirist Neha Singh Rathore is facing sedition charges following allegations of making "provocative" social media posts "targeting a specific religious group" in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir.
The complaint, filed by Abhay Pratap Singh, accuses Rathore of spreading "anti-national statements" and attempting to incite communal tension.
The deadly terror attack in Pahalgam's Baisaran valley on April 22 left 26 people dead, with survivors claiming that the terrorists asked victims their religion before shooting those who identified as Hindu.
Who is Neha Singh Rathore?
Neha Singh Rathore, born in 1997 in Jandaha, Bihar, is a prominent Bhojpuri folk singer known for her sharp political satire. Rathore graduated in science from Kanpur University in 2018 and began her career in 2019 by recording Bhojpuri folk songs on her mobile phone and posting them on Facebook. She has cited legendary Bhojpuri poets like Bhikhari Thakur and Mahendar Misir as her inspirations.
In May 2020, Rathore launched a YouTube channel to highlight the plight of migrant workers during the COVID-19 lockdown. Her politically charged songs, including 'Bihar Mein Ka Ba' (2020), 'UP Mein Ka Ba?' (2022), and 'MP Mein Ka Ba?' (2023), gained massive traction, amassing over one lakh subscribers by 2021.
Rathore’s outspoken criticism has frequently placed her in controversy. In July 2023, a case was filed against her for sharing a caricature related to the Madhya Pradesh urination incident, which further fueled her image as a bold voice of dissent.
Legal Trouble After Pahalgam Attack Comments
According to reports, an FIR has been registered against Rathore in Lucknow under various Sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for promoting sectarian enmity, disturbing public tranquility, and threatening the sovereignty and integrity of India. She has also been charged under provisions of the Information Technology Act.
Here's an official statement released by the police:
The complainant alleged that Rathore’s posts following the Pahalgam attack were "designed to disturb communal harmony" and accused her of using the tragedy to make "provocative" statements. Family members of the attack victims have recounted to authorities that the terrorists systematically targeted individuals based on their religion.
In response to the complaints against filed her, Rathore released another statement on X. She wrote, "More people from my own family have risked their lives in the army than the total number of children of all BJP leaders combined. …But today BJP's IT cell is calling me a traitor because I ask questions without fear. Is it treason to ask questions to the Prime Minister."
In a separate X post, she wrote, "The government wants to divert attention from the real issues by filing an FIR against me…is this so difficult to understand?"
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