'Disgrace for freedom of speech': Arrested influencer Sharmishta Panoli gets Dutch support

Geert Wilders, a member of the Dutch Parliament and the leader of the right-wing Party for Freedom, has said the influencer's arrest is a "disgrace for freedom of speech."

"Free the brave Sharmishta Panoli! It's a disgrace for the freedom of speech that she was arrested. Don't punish her for speaking the truth about Pakistan and Muhammad. Help her @narendramodi," Wilders said in a post on X.

He also attached a photo to the post, reading, "All eyes on Sharmistha."

Kolkata Police have arrested Sharmishta Panoli from Gurugram on charges of promoting enmity and outraging religious feelings on social media.

The Pune-based law student had earlier tendered an apology for the comments that had sparked widespread online outrage.

According to reports, she was detained at a hotel in Gurugram.

In the Instagram video, which has now been deleted, the law student had reportedly slammed Bollywood celebrities for their silence on "Operation Sindoor."

“The case pertains to an Instagram video by Sharmistha Panoli that hurt the religious sentiments of the members of a particular community,” a senior police officer told ThePrint.

Sources told the news portal that her “disrespectful and derogatory” remarks in the video were directed at a particular religion.

After the video triggered an online outrage, an FIR was lodged against her.

Her arrest has been slammed by BJP ally and Andhra Pradesh's Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, who said, "secularism must be a two-way street."

In a post on X, Kalyan wrote: "During Operation Sindoor, Sharmistha, a law student, spoke out, her words regrettable and hurtful to some. She owned her mistake, deleted the video and apologized. The WB Police swiftly acted, taking action against Sharmistha."

"But what about the deep, searing pain inflicted upon millions when elected leaders, MPs of TMC, mock Sanatana Dharma? Where is the outrage when our faith is called 'Gandha Dharm'? Where is their apology? Where is their swift arrest?

"Blasphemy must be condemned, always! Secularism isn't a shield for some and a sword for others. It must be a two-way street. West Bengal Police, the nation is watching. Act justly for all. #IstandwithSharmistha. #EqualJustice," he wrote.

She had earlier tendered an apology for her remarks on X when she wrote: " I do hereby tender my UNCONDITIONAL APOLOGY whatever was put are my personal feelings and i never intentionally wanted to hurt anybody so if anybody is hurt I’m sorry for the same. I expect co-operation and understanding. Henceforth, i will be cautious in my public post. Again please accept my apologies."