[Marxistindia] Complaint to Delhi Police Commissioner regarding statements of BJP leaders

[news from the cpi(m)]

29 January 2020
 
Press Release
 
Smt. Brinda Karat, Polit Bureau member of CPI(M) and Shri K. M. Tewari,
Secretary, Delhi State Committee of CPI(M) lodged a complaint to the
Commissioner of Police, Delhi against Shri Anurag Thakur, Minister of State
for Finance, GOI and Shri Parvesh Verma, MP for inciting communal enmity,
extending threats and making statements that are prejudicial to national
integration and demanded to register an FIR.
 
We are releasing the text of the complaint for publication.
 
****
Dear Shri Patnaik ji, 
 
You are no doubt aware that the Election Commission has taken note of the
prima facie evidence against two BJP leaders namely Anurag Thakur, the
Minister of State for Finance and Parvesh Verma the incumbent MP from the
West Delhi Lok Sabha Constituency, for highly objectionable speeches and has
removed them from the list of star campaigners. However it is regrettable
that the Delhi police, which has taken suo moto notice of other statements
made by other persons to file sedition cases, has not taken any notice of
the blatantly communal and hate speeches made by these two leaders and has
not filed any cases against them. Their statements over the past few days
are inflammatory and illegal, constituting offences under Sections
153A/153B/504 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), as well as other applicable
provisions such as under Section 295A/298/506 IPC.
 
We, Brinda Karat and K.M.Tewari, are therefore making this complaint and
demand that an FIR be filed immediately against the two individuals named.
 
Mr. Parvesh Verma gave a speech on Monday, 27.01.2020 in which he openly
threatened the protestors at Shaheen Bagh and claimed that if the BJP is
elected in Delhi, Shaheen Bagh would be cleared within one hour. This is
clearly a threat, and Mr. Verma can only be referring to the use of force
against what has been a peaceful gathering at Shaheen Bagh. 
 
Mr. Verma has given an interview to ANI on 28.01.2020, which we have viewed
online. In the said interview, Mr. Verma has stated in reference to the
protestors at Shaheen Bagh: 
 
"Yeh log aapke gharon mein ghusenge, aapki behen betiyon ko uthaienge aur
unko rape karenge, unko marenge. Isiliye aaj samay hai. Kal Modi ji nahin
aayenge bachane, kal Amit Shah ji nahin aayenge bachane."
 
(As per the video and article available at
<https://www.indiatoday.in/elections/delhi-assembly-polls-2020/story/bjp-mp-
parvesh-verma-shaheen-bagh-clear-protest-delhi-election-1640808-2020-01-28>
https://www.indiatoday.in/elections/delhi-assembly-polls-2020/story/bjp-mp-p
arvesh-verma-shaheen-bagh-clear-protest-delhi-election-1640808-2020-01-28)
 
This statement is, once again, clearly false provocative and communal as not
only is the protest at Shaheen Bagh entirely peaceful, but it is also
attended by a large number of women, elderly persons and children, a large
section of whom belong to the minority community. Mr. Verma seeks to
characterise the protestors at Shaheen Bagh as potential dangerous invaders
into the homes of peaceful Hindus. It is inciting religious hatred by
calling them rapists and criminals. It is also designed to cause fear among
the majority population, particularly women and create communal division.
 
Mr. Verma is also reported as having stated that "If my government is formed
in Delhi, then give me only one month's time after February 11. Will not
leave any mosques built in my Lok Sabha constituency on government land will
remove them all." This statement is also self-evidently inflammatory,
communal, and threatening towards the Muslim community. Particularly when
said as part of a campaign speech by an elected representative, these
intentional statements are directly aimed at creating enmity between
religious groups and extending threats and intimidation of violence to the
Muslim community at large. Such statements cannot be ignored as, apart from
being against the fibre of the Indian Constitution and society, they
constitute serious cognizable offences under the IPC.
 
As previously mentioned, the provocative comments made by Mr. Verma are made
with the intention to promote enmity between Hindus and Muslims in India.
This act of Mr. Verma constitutes offence under Section 153A/153B/504/505
IPC. 
 
As Mr. Verma's statement were in the course of campaigning and clearly with
a view to garner votes in the forthcoming elections, the offence of making a
false statement in connection with an election under Section 171G IPC may
also be attracted in the present case.
 
Similarly, on 27.1.2010, Mr. Anurag Thakur while campaigning for a BJP
candidate, Manish Choudhury in Rithala, was seen addressing a rally of BJP
supporters and leading a chant of 'desh k gaddaro ko, goli maro salon ko'.
In the video which is uploaded on various news websites including the Times
of India. Mr. Anurag Thakur is seen inciting the supporters of the BJP and
members of the general public present at the said rally to attack those
protesting against the CAA and NRC by referring to protestors as gaddar or
traitors. Mr. Thakur is in fact seen in the video repeatedly calling upon
the BJP supporters present to shout the said slogan so that the same is
audible to other office bearers, and members of the BJP present on the stage
of the said rally including the Union Minister, Mr. Giriraj Singh among
others. The video may be viewed online at the URL: 
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/videos/city/delhi/union-minister-anurag-
thakur-stokes-controversy-at-bjp-rally-in-delhi/videoshow/73670737.cms
 
We request you to immediately register an FIR on this complaint, which
discloses the commission of serious cognizable offences that threaten our
national integration.
 
Thank you.
 
With regards,
 
Sd/-
Brinda Karat
K.M.Tewari
[Member, Polit Bureau, CPI(M)]                [Secretary, Delhi State
Committee,
                                                                   CPI(M)]
 
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