The vacation bench said power had gone to her head because she was spokesperson of a political party.

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THE Supreme Court earlier today came down heavily on suspended Bharatiya Janta Party leader Nupur Sharma for her derogatory remarks against Prophet Mohammad, even as it said that her loose tongue was single-handedly responsible for igniting emotions across the country and hence she must apologize to the nation.

“We saw the debate on how she was incited. But the way she said all this and later says she was a lawyer, it is shameful. She should apologise to the whole country”, said a vacation bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and J.B. Pardiwala.

The bench was hearing a petition filed by Sharma seeking clubbing of all the FIRs (first information reports) against her.

The bench also took strong exception to the television channel for hosting the discussion in which Sharma, made the remark that drew international flack.

When senior advocate Maninder Singh, for Sharma, submitted that she had apologised for her remarks, Justice Kant shot back “it was too late in the day to withdraw”.

Pointing out the inaction by Delhi police, the bench remarked, “When you file FIRs against others, they are immediately arrested but when it’s against you nobody has dared to touch you.”

It also expressed displeasure at Sharma’s obstinacy and arrogance, and said because she is the spokesperson of a party, power has gone to her head.

“These kind of people are not religious as all religious people respect every religion”, the bench said.

When senior counsel for Sharma said that she is facing threats, the bench shot back to say, “She faces threats or she has become security threat?”

When Sharma pleaded for investigation of the FIR lodged by Delhi police and that she has already joined the investigation, the bench said, “What has happened in the investigation so far? There must have been red carpet for you there.”

Sensing the mood of the bench, Sharma chose to withdraw her petition.