India: Police register complaint against BJP leader Amit Shah for hate speech in UP

The Hindu, April 6, 2014

FIR against Amit Shah for hate speech

Omar Rashid

The Uttar Pradesh police on Sunday lodged an FIR against Amit Shah, the BJP general secretary in-charge of the State, for his alleged 'hate-speech' in Muzaffarnagar where he reportedly asked Jats to avenge the killing of their community members in last year's riots by voting for his party.

The FIR was lodged against him in Bijnore for the violation of the Moral Code of Conduct during elections. Mr. Shah, a close aide of BJP Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, was booked under Section 153(A) of the Indian Penal Code (promoting enmity between different groups) and Section 125 of the Representation of the People Act (promoting enmity between classes in connection with election).

Mr. Shah had reportedly told the Jats that the general election was an opportunity to seek "revenge for the insult" of last September's riots and protect their honour.

Samajwadi Party and the Congress approached the Election Commission seeking action against the leader, with the latter demanding Mr. Shah's arrest. However, an arrest warrant has not been issued against the leader, the police said.

BJP spokesperson Vijay Bahadur Pathak said there was "nothing wrong" in what Mr. Shah said and the party would respond to the FIR through the right means and "respect the due process of law."

Responding to the FIR, BJP State president Laxmikant Bajpai said it was a "conspiracy" by the SP, supported by the Congress and the BSP.