New Delhi, February 18 The Congress claimed on Wednesday that the Union Ministry of Culture funded an event last December where allegedly hate speech was directed against the Muslim community, and demanded that a law be enacted to curb hate speech.
There was no immediate reaction from the Ministry of Culture on the allegations.
Congress spokesperson Ragini Nayak Basoya expressed grave concern over the mainstreaming of "hate mongering", which, she said, was no longer restricted to fringe elements.
Referring to the event 'Sanatan Rashtra Shankhnad Mahotsava', organized by Sanatan Sanstha at Bharat Mandapam here, Basoya claimed that it was funded by the ministry, which paid Rs 63 lakh for it.
This was revealed in an RTI reply, she said at a press conference.
She alleged that hate speech was delivered at the event, where Muslims were targeted and described as "infiltrators". In addition, she claimed that suggestions were made on how to convert Muslims.
The Congress leader claimed that some Union ministers and BJP leaders also attended the event.
Basoya said that the Congress demands that a preventive legislation should be brought in the country to stop hate speech and curb provocative statements.