BJP President Amit Shah has been chargesheeted for an alleged hate speech he made in the run-up to the 2014 General Elections. Addressing a party meeting in riot-hit Muzaffarnagar, Shah had reportedly said that "this election is about voting out the government that protects and gives compensation to those who killed Jats. It is about 'badla' (revenge) and protecting 'izzat' (honour)".
Based on video evidence, a case was registered against him in Uttar Pradesh. In April, two separate FIRs were lodged against the BJP chief under section 153 A of IPC and section 125 of Representation of People's Act in Bijnor and Shamli. Attacking Shah for his "provocative hate speech", several parties, including the Congress had complained to the Election Commission. BJP though stood firmly beside its leader, who was in charge of party's campaign in Uttar Pradesh. Following BJP's phenomenal success in the crucial battleground state which catapulted the party to get a majority on its own, Shah was elevated to the post of Party president.
The Deputy SP of New Mandi Circle here, Yogender Singh, said the chargesheet has been filed under various sections of IPC, including 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, etc.), 295A (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class) and 505 (false statement, rumour, etc. circulated with intent to cause mutiny or offence against the public peace), and Section 123-3 of Representation of People Act (making an appeal to vote on the grounds of religion amounting to corrupt practice). Police had registered a case against Shah for allegedly violating the model code following a direction from the Election Commission, which had also banned him from campaigning in the state on April 4, 2014. The FIR was lodged against Shah in New Mandi police station by a district official and the case was handed over to Sub-Inspector BL Shah for investigation.
Taking note of the "revenge" remark by Shah, the EC had issued a notice to him for prima facie violation of the model code. Shah had denied having violated the model code and asked EC to reconsider its notice to him claiming that the remarks were not recorded in the right perspective. The ban on him was later lifted.
With Agency Inputs
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