A Delhi-based advocate has filed a police complaint against All India Students' Association (AISA) president Neha Bora over her remarks concerning the safety of Brahmin women and allegations of sexual assault by temple priests, arguing that her statements could promote hostility and disharmony between communities.
Amita Sachdeva told news agency ANI on Wednesday that she had submitted a complaint under Section 196 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). She said the police had assured her that they would consult senior officers and consider appropriate action.
Sachdeva added that she would wait for a few days before approaching the deputy commissioner of police, if necessary. If no action followed, she said, she would move the court under Section 175(3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), seeking directions for registration of an FIR.
What did Neha Bora say about Brahmin women and temple priests?
The complaint follows the circulation of an old video of Bora on November 2. In the clip, she speaks about women's safety under what she describes as the Brahmanical system and argues that protection is needed from the system itself.
“Protection is definitely needed, and protection is needed from the Brahmanical system itself. That system which says that the poor, Shudras, animals, and women are deserving of punishment/rebuke. This is the very same system under which Brahmin women are unsafe, they get raped. Priests commit rape inside temples. We see such instances in Unnao, in Kathua,” Bora said.
The video was shared on X by BJP national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari, who criticised the remarks and accused the Congress of promoting anti-Hindu views. He described Bora as a “poster girl of Rahul Gandhi” and alleged that her comments reflected hostility towards Hindu beliefs.
The controversy erupted after Bora made the remarks while speaking about caste and religious institutions in the context of an opposition-backed resolution seeking the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. She had also raised concerns over alleged irregularities in electoral rolls.
Sachdeva says remarks could create hostility between communities
Speaking to ANI, Sachdeva said she had learnt about Bora's remarks that Brahmin women were unsafe under Brahmanism and strongly condemned them.
“Such statements create hostility and disharmony between communities,” she said, adding that she had approached the police under Section 196 of the BNS.
In her complaint, Sachdeva argued that making sweeping allegations about an entire category of religious functionaries could promote enmity, hatred or ill-will between different groups. She maintained that sexual offences must be investigated and prosecuted wherever they occur, but alleged that attributing such crimes broadly to a group could disturb public tranquillity.
She also sought an investigation into the statements, their intent, the electronic records and the manner in which the video had been circulated, along with their alleged impact on public order. Sachdeva said her complaint was a law-and-order matter and was not being filed as a grievance on behalf of any particular community.
Section 196 of the BNS deals with promoting enmity between different groups on grounds including religion, race, caste and community, as well as acts prejudicial to the maintenance of harmony.
Chirag Paswan, Priyanka Chaturvedi criticise remarks
The remarks have drawn criticism from several political leaders. Union minister Chirag Paswan acknowledged that discrimination based on caste and religion continued to exist, but said political leaders should highlight examples that promote social harmony rather than division.
“The way Neha Bora Ji made these remarks, the objectionable manner in which she spoke about Brahmin women, Brahminism and Sanatan Dharma, reflects the same politics of division that has continued since the British era: divide and rule,” Paswan told ANI.
He added that leaders had a responsibility to draw attention to examples from history that brought society together. Paswan also referred to regime change in Pakistan, alleging that the military was misused to bring about changes in power.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi also described Bora's remarks as deeply unfortunate. She questioned the use of sweeping generalisations about caste and religion, saying radical thinking on either side of the political spectrum was harmful.
Chaturvedi, who identified herself as a Brahmin woman, said she wanted to speak to Bora and explain why social issues should not always be viewed through the lens of caste or religion. Samajwadi Party MP Rajeev Rai also criticised the generalisation, saying that every religion had both good and bad people and that such sweeping statements should be avoided.
The BJP, meanwhile, has continued to target Bora and the Congress over the remarks, with Bhandari alleging that the comments reflected an anti-Hindu mindset.