Zee Media Bureau/Ritesh K Srivastava
New Delhi: In what is likely to spell more trouble for BJP leader and the party`s in-charge of Uttar Pradesh Amit Shah, the Election Commission on Monday took cognizance of the alleged hate speech made by him in the riot-hit Muzaffarnagar recently and issued a notice to him in this regard.
According to reports, the Election Commission issued notice after examining the CDs of Amit Shah`s hate speech and the report sent to it by the state election officials for violating the model code of conduct.
Shah had courted a controversy by appealing to voters in Muzaffarnagar recently to take revenge from those who had insulted them during the communal riots.
Two FIRs were lodged against Shah on Sunday in connection with his `revenge` remark in the riot-hit Muzaffarnagar.
The Chief Electoral Officer, UP, Umesh Sinha told reporters that his speech in Muzaffarnagar was in violation of model code of conduct so an FIR has been filed against him.
Shah was booked under section 153 of the IPC (inciting people) and section 125 of the Representation of the People Act (promoting enmity between different classes), the DM said.
Uttar Pradesh poll authorities sent the CD of the remark made by Shah in Muzaffarnagar, which witnessed communal frenzy last year, along with report of the District Election Officer to the Election Commission in New Delhi.
In his speech, Shah had said that the upcoming Lok Sabha polls was not only about voting out the government that protects and gives compensation to those who killed Jats, it was an election for honour and to take revenge for the insult heaped on them. He also said that it was an election to teach a lesson to those who had committed injustice.
Shah 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", Congress had complained to the Election Commission on Saturday.
The Congress sought his arrest and asked for banning him from campaigning for "creating animosity between communities" in western Uttar Pradesh.
