BJP leader booked for making hate speech against Rahul Gandhi

A complaint has been filed against Udhampur BJP leader Jagtar Singh Bajwa, after he was allegedly caught on tape asking the country's youth "to decapitate Rahul Gandhi and hang his head on JNU's gate" three days ago, police said on Tuesday.

Bajwa has been booked on charges for giving a speech with intent to instigate and cause riot, Bajpur police head O P Sharma said, adding that an investigation has been launched. Police sources said officials are now examining the video and audio of Bajwa's speech.

Bajwa, who is BJP's vice-president in Uttarakhand's Udhampur district had on Saturday said the country's youth must decapitate Gandhi and that "those who do so will be worshipped and a temple in their name will be constructed".

Uttarakhand CM Harish Rawat had condemned the statement on Monday, saying BJP is creating an atmosphere of "hate" and "intolerance" in a planned manner, urging all democratic and intellectual voices in the country to oppose this.