BJP chief Amit Shah chargesheeted for alleged hate speech

New Delhi, In what may spell trouble for the ruling BJP, its national president Amit Shah was on Wednesday chargesheeted for a hate speech made by him in the run-up to the General Elections by the local police in Muzaffarnagar, which was hit by communal violence last year.

According to reports, the BJP chief has been booked by the UP police on the basis of a video clip of his alleged hate speech, which he delivered there in April.

Addressing a rally in 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)”.

He was accompanied by BJP legislator Suresh Rana, who was an accused in the Muzaffarnagar riots in which over 60 people, mostly Muslims, had died, while thousands were rendered homeless.

Attacking Shah for his “provocative hate speech”, several parties, including the Congress had complained to the Election Commission and sought action against him.

The Congress sought his arrest and asked the panel to ban him from campaigning for “creating animosity between communities” in western Uttar Pradesh.

The Congress party also demanded “stern action” against the BJP and Narendra Modi, including de-recognition of the party, for the alleged violation of the model code of conduct.

The party said Amit Shah committed an offence under section 125 of the Representation of Peoples Act, 1951, which calls for the immediate registration of an FIR and his arrest.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) also went to the poll panel, seeking action against the former Gujarat minister for spreading communal hatred.

A complaint to the poll panel and minorities commission was also filed by Delhi-based lawyer and activist Shehzad Poonawalla.