Dutch MP Backs Arrested Influencer Sharmishta Panoli

The arrest of 22-year-old influencer Sharmishta Panoli by Kolkata Police has drawn international attention after Dutch MP Geert Wilders condemned it as a violation of free speech. Wilders, a known right-wing politician, urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene, calling her arrest “a disgrace for freedom of speech.”

Panoli, a law student, was arrested for posting a video that included communal remarks and criticisms of Bollywood actors for their silence during India's Operation Sindoor, a counterterror mission following the Pahalgam terror attack. Her post triggered a political firestorm, with opposition BJP leaders accusing West Bengal’s Trinamool Congress (TMC) government of selectively targeting voices from the Hindu community.

The FIR against Panoli includes serious charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including promoting enmity between communities and deliberate provocation. She has been remanded in judicial custody for 14 days.

Jana Kalyan Sena leader Pawan Kalyan questioned the selective action, pointing out the silence when TMC leaders made offensive comments about Hinduism. “Where is the outrage when Sanatana Dharma is mocked?” he asked, demanding equal justice.

In response, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee accused the BJP of inciting communal tensions and defended her government's actions. She denounced what she called the BJP’s “ganda dharma” (filthy faith), a term now at the center of further controversy.

Kolkata Police defended the arrest, saying multiple notices were ignored by Panoli and legal procedures were followed. They refuted claims of political bias, urging the public not to fall for misinformation.

The incident has sparked a wider debate on freedom of speech, religious sensitivity, and the politicization of police action, with both sides accusing each other of double standards in upholding democratic values. Panoli’s case continues to gain traction as global voices weigh in.

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! @AmyMek #Sharmishta #IStandwithSharmishta #ReleaseSharmistha #FreeSharmishta pic.twitter.com/YhGSLhuyr2
— Geert Wilders (@geertwilderspvv) May 31, 2025