India's top court warns demolitions "can't be retaliatory" as Muslim protesters claim homes razed as punishment
CBSN
New Delhi — India's Supreme Court on Thursday cautioned the Uttar Pradesh state government against the controversial practice of demolishing the homes of Muslim protesters accused of instigating violence amid nationwide protests last week, but it declined to order a halt to the demolitions.
"Demolitions have to be in accordance with law, they cannot be retaliatory," the top court said, responding to a case brought by Muslims in Uttar Pradesh who allege the state government has been punishing members of India's 200-million-strong Islamic minority for participating in protests.
Protests erupted in several states on June 10 over derogatory remarks made by senior members of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's political party about the Prophet Muhammad. The demonstrators, mostly Muslims, demanded the arrest of Nupur Sharma and Naveen Jindal, the officials of the ruling Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) who made the remarks. Both of them were fired by the party.
