‘Ganja consumed as Prasad,’ says Samajwadi Party MP Afzal Ansari, case filed

Afzal Ansari, an MP from the Samajwadi Party, sparked a major controversy when he advocated the legalization of marijuana and stated that a significant amount of marijuana was used in the Kumbh Mela. His comments caused a huge uproar, and saints demanded that he be severely punished.

According to police, an FIR was lodged against him on Sunday for allegedly saying that a lot of ganja was consumed in the Kumbh Mela. The controversial comment was made on September 27 by the MP, brother of late mafia Don Mukhtar Ansari.

The Ghazipur MP is also said to have told reporters that ganja alone would not be enough for the Kumbh Mela even if an entire freight train was packed with the drug.

When he asked why such a mockery was being made of the law, he suggested that ganja should be given legal status. Cannabis is smoked publicly by countless individuals. They also smoke ganja in large groups.

“People smoke ganja at major religious events and call it God’s prasad. If it is God’s prasad, why is it illegal? Why this double policy? If it is considered God’s sacrifice and God’s herb, then recognize it in the law. It is illegal under the law, but consuming alcohol is exempt from the law. The same situation exists in Ghazipur district too,” he noted.

“We are saying that if it is considered as a herb and prasad of Lord Shankar, then why is cannabis being portrayed in a distorted manner in society? You need a license for cannabis, but there is no license for ganja. This is illegal. Many sages, saints and people from the religious community smoke ganja with great affection and claim that it also increases appetite,” the MP said.

A number of Hindu saints and organizations have denounced Mr Ansari’s statements and called for his resignation. Ansari clarified in a later statement that the purpose of his comments was to highlight the drug problem in his community, as well as the smuggling of ‘ganja’. The SP chief added that he also sincerely apologized to anyone who was offended by his comments.

Ghazipur SHO Deendayal Pandey said the FIR was registered against him at Ghazipur police station under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Section 353(3) (statement inciting public mischief) by Gora Bazar police station in-charge Rajkumar Shukla.

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