Kishanganj/Garwah, April 07: Two FIRs were filed on Tuesday against RJD chief Lalu Prasad for violation of the Model Code of Conduct for his remarks against BJP candidate Varun Gandhi at Kishanganj in Bihar and another in Jharkhand when
his helicopter landed at the venue of an election meeting.
This is probably for the first time that a Union minister has been slapped with two FIRs in one day.
The first FIR, having more serious charges, was filed in Kishanganj for his remarks at an election rally yesterday
that he would have crushed Varun Gandhi under a 'roller
without caring for consequences'.
Kishanganj District Magistrate Ferak Ahmed said in
this regard, "I have seen the CD of Lalu Prasad's speech. He
has tried to create communal disturbance and divide society by
his speech."
He said the CD was being forwarded to the Election
Commission.
The FIR was lodged under Section 153 of IPC (wantonly
giving provocation with intent to cause riot) and Section 125
of the Representation of People's Act at the Kishanganj Town
police station.
Prasad, however, clarified at another election meeting
at Garwah in Jharkhand today saying, "What I meant was
crushing him under the roller of law had I been the Home
Minister."
Lalu later told newsmen," I said that it doesn't matter how
powerful a person maybe if someone indulges in opportunistic
and communal politics then he will be bulldozed legally and
politically. He will not be spared as far as I am concerned."
The second FIR was filed at the Garwah police station
after the Railway Minister's helicopter landed at the election
meeting venue directly instead of the helipad.
The FIR, filed with the Garwah police station (case no
101), also named the pilot, Jagjit Singh, he said.
Meanwhile, in Delhi, the Election Commission said it will look into
the video footage of Lalu's rally where he made the remarks
against Varun.
"The state CEO has been asked to send the CD which is
on the way," Deputy Election Commissioner R Balakrishnan said.
Lok Janshakti party chief Ramvilas Paswan and Lalu's
ally came out in defence of the RJD chief saying, "I think
Lalu meant that he would have taken strong action against
Varun Gandhi for his hate speech against the minority
community and for fomenting communal passion."
Paswan was talking to reporters while releasing his
party's election manifesto.
When told that an FIR had been lodged against Prasad for
his remarks at Kishanganj yesterday, Paswan said, "Anybody
can file an FIR ... It is for the EC and the court to take a
decision.
"While the BJP is playing the Hindu card over the
Varun Gandhi issue, BSP chief Mayawati is trying to appease
Muslims by getting him arrested and invoking NSA against him,"
Paswan said, adding Lalu's remarks were political and nothing
much be read between the lines.
Congress meanwhile termed Lalu's remarks as being
against the tradition of democracy.
"The manner in which Lalu Prasadji has expressed his
view does not befit the dignity and traditions of democracy,"
Congress spokesperson Ashwini Kumar said in New Delhi.
"The manner of communication in a democracy should be
as per the dignity of democracy," he said.
The BJP demanded the removal of the Railways Minister
from the Union Cabinet.
Party general secretary Arun Jaitely asked Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh to immediately remove Prasad from the Union
Cabinet or own the responsibility of his controversial and
intimidating statement against Gandhi.
Addressing a press conference in Varanasi, Jaitely said
that the Prime Minister will have to tell the country that
"how can he maintain such a person in the Union Cabinet?"
In a blistering attack on the Lalu's statement, Jaitely
said, "It reflects lumpenisation of government and politics of
UPA."
Bureau Report