Karnataka: FIR against Jignesh Mevani for allegedly asking youth to disrupt Modi’s rally
The Dalit leader and Gujarat MLA reportedly asked people to hurl chairs in the air at the prime minister’s poll campaign in Bengaluru on April 15.
A First Information Report has been filed against Gujarat MLA Jignesh Mevani for a speech in Chitradurga city of Karnataka on Friday, where the Vadgam legislator asked people to disrupt Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s election campaign in the state, The News Minute reported.
“Currently, the best role of the youth of Karnataka is to go to Prime Minister Modi’s public address in Bengaluru on April 15 and hurl chairs in the air and disrupt his function,” Mevani said at a “Save Our Constitution” event, according to The News Minute. “Ask him what happened to the two crore employment generation. If he does not have the answer, ask him to go and sleep in the Himalayas. Ask him to sleep there and ring the bell at the Ram Mandir.”
The Dalit leader also said that he was not supporting any political party. “I am here to awaken the masses on the risks of fascism and ensure that the Bharatiya Janata Party does not enter South India,” he said.
The FIR said Mevani intended to “deliberately incite hatred and incite people to create a ruckus in public meetings”.
It is not clear who filed the FIR. The News Minute reported that Jayant T, a gazetted officer and a member of the Election Commission’s flying squad number 99, made the complaint. However, The Times of India said the FIR was filed by BJP’s Chitradurga district President KS Naveen.
The BJP has also demanded that Mevani be banned from entering Karnataka till the Assembly elections in the state are completed, The New Indian Express reported. Elections for the 224-member state Assembly will take place on May 12, and results will be announced on May 15.