'Pokémon Go' manages to hurt religious sentiments in India even before official launch

Although Pokémon Go is yet to launch in India, its unofficial presence has still managed to hurt the sentiment of some.

Gujarat-based Alay Anil Dave has filed a PIL, or public interest litigation, with the state High Court against Niantic, the developer of Pokémon Go. He alleges that the augmented-reality game is hurting the sentiment of people by showing eggs in religious places such as temples. Eggs are widely classified as non-vegetarian edible items, something that most religious places in India prohibit. In his plea, Dave finds carrying eggs, even if it’s just a virtual projection, in Hindu and Jain temples “blasphemous.” Pokémon Go, which quickly became a sensation worldwide, has amusingly encouraged people to get out of their houses more often and roam around the city. In India too, where the game is yet to officially launch, Pokémon Go has been driving many to temples. "People playing the game get their points in the form of eggs which generally appear in the places of worship of different religious groups. To find eggs in temples of Hindus and Jains is blasphemous, and therefore my client has sought ban on the game from the country," Dave's lawyer Nachiket Dave said. This isn’t the first time Pokémon Go has stirred a controversy. Niantic was also in the hot water when Pokémon Go players discovered dead bodies, became robbery targets, and also posed as security and life threats to others and themselves. Dave has also raised privacy concerns in his plea and said that the game poses the risk of making someone lethally injured. The petitioner is expected to hear from the bench of Chief Justice R Subhash Reddy and Justice Vipul Pancholi later today.