Zee Media Bureau
Lucknow: In a shocking comment, the Congress candidate from Saharanpur has threatened to chop Bharatiya Janata Party`s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi into pieces.
A video shows Congress candidate from Saharanpur Lok Sabha constituency in UP, Imran Masood, as saying: “Hum Modi ki kutti kaat denge (We will chop Modi into pieces)”.
A case has been registered against the nephew of former Congress Rajya Sabha MP Rashid Masood for making provocative statement against Modi.
The comment made by Masood has evoked sharp reactions. Former Congress leader and now BJP`s Domariyaganj candidate, Jagdambika Pal, has sought Congress` apology.
BJP`s state spokesman Vijay Bahadur Pathak said the comments were not only threatening but also against the code of ethics that most politicians observe.
"I want to ask the Congress leadership if they support what their official party candidate has said. If not, will they cancel his candidature," Pathak told a news agency.
Congress candidate from Ghaziabad, Raj Babbar, called Masood`s remark "wrong and unacceptable".
Slamming Masood`s remark as "uncivilised language", well-known cleric Maulana Khalid Rashid Firangi Mahali said such hate comments have no place in politics.
Communist Party of India (CPI) leader D Raja called it a serious matter. “The EC and law-and-order agencies must take note,” said Raja.
The video showing him making the hate speech came to light on Thursday.
He is also seen saying that Uttar Pradesh is not Gujarat. "UP is not Gujarat. There is only 4 percent Muslim population in Gujarat but in UP there are 22 percent Muslims here. I will fight against Narendra Modi because I know how to give a fitting reply to him. We will cut him into pieces."
However, he later apologised for his remarks, saying "I should have been more cautious with my words" and that the same were said in the heat of electioneering.
Saharanpur District Magistrate as well as District Election Officer Sandhya Tiwari said a CD with the recordings of Masood`s statement had been received by them which has been forwarded to the Election Commission.
Masood has been booked under Sections 153 A (promoting enmity between different groups), 295 A (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings or any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs), 504 (Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace), 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC, district authorities said.
District officials told a news agency that action would be taken against him as per laws against hate speeches during elections.
The Election Commission has sought a report on the matter, officials here said.
The BJP will make an official complaint with the EC tomorrow and a high-level delegation of the party will meet top poll officials in Delhi seeking strong action against Masood`s remarks that it says vitiates the atmosphere.
"BJP strongly condemns Imran Masood`s statement and we
are going to approach the Election Commission by lodging a formal complaint with it," BJP Spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi told reporters here.
BJP vice president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi alleged that political secularism is being converted into "Talibani secularism" and the kind of language used by Congress leaders is vitiating the atmosphere of elections.
"The Election Commission should take immediate note of it and instruct the state and central governments regarding the serious threat to Modi and other BJP leaders," he said, adding that Congress leaders are indulging in such inflammatory speeches in view of the clear defeat facing them.
He said a high-level delegation of BJP will meet the EC tomorrow and ask for strong action against the use of such type of language that disturbs communal harmony.
Trivedi said such types of statements not just vitiate the atmosphere but are also against the Model Code of Conduct.
"Election time is very sensitive time. The Centre has a crucial role to play in ensuring safety and security of all candidates, including Narendra Modi," he said.
Naqvi said this is not the first time Congress leaders are indulging in use of such language as they indulge in giving such type of inflammatory speeches in every election to disturb the peaceful atmosphere and add poison to it.
(With PTI inputs)
