The Bharatiya Janata Party-led government on Tuesday asked the Supreme Court to retain charges of making hate speech against party leader Subramaniam Swamy. The home ministry submitted an affidavit in response to Swamy’s plea challenging the criminal charges against him for his book on terrorism, in which he allegedly makes controversial statements about Hindus and Muslims. The government said people cannot be allowed to spread hatred in the name of freedom of speech as this could incite violence and riots.

Swamy had challenged the constitutional validity of several sections under which he had been charged. The court had issued a notice to the Centre in July and sought a response. The ministry on Tuesday insisted that Swamy’s book had violated sections of the Indian Penal Code that deal with hate speech, and that the constitution reasonably restricts freedom of speech to maintain peace between India’s multiple communities. The move comes at a time when the government is facing flak for not reining in his leaders and being complicit in the communal and regional tension spreading through the country,