Delhi Police Arrests Six Over Posters Against PM Modi, More Than 100 FIRs Filed

FIRs were registered in different districts across the city under sections of the Printing Press Act and Defacement of Property Act, the Delhi police stated.

Pic Credit: File Photo

New Delhi: Six people were arrested in Delhi in connection with 'objectionable' posters which were put up across the city including those against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. According to the news agency ANI, some of the posters included derogatory remarks against PM Modi, for instance - "Modi Hatao Desh Bachao". Special CP Deependra Pathak told ANI that the Delhi Police has registered over 100 FIRs while six people have been arrested in the matter.

In Delhi, FIRs registered over objectionable posters

FIRs were registered in different districts across the city under sections of the Printing Press Act and Defacement of Property Act stated the Delhi police. The Aam Aadmi Party is suspected to be involved in the matter as per the police. Reportedly, a van was intercepted as it was leaving AAP's office and a few posters were seized as well. The investigation is ongoing in the case. 

Aam Aadmi Party tweets on poster controversy

The AAP's Twitter handle, on Wednesday (March 22), addressed the matter and tweeted, "What is so objectionable in this poster that Modi ji has filed 100 FIRs?".

The tweet written in Hindi read, "Dictatorship of Modi government is at its peak. What is so objectionable in this poster that Modi ji has filed 100 F.I.R? PM Modi, you probably do not know but India is a democratic country. So scared of one poster! Why?" It also included the photo of the slogan seen in the posters put up across city - 'Modi Hatau, Desh Bachao'.

मोदी सरकार की तानाशाही चरम पर है‼️

इस Poster में ऐसा क्या आपत्तिजनक है जो इसे लगाने पर मोदी जी ने 100 F.I.R. कर दी?

PM Modi, आपको शायद पता नहीं पर भारत एक लोकतांत्रिक देश है।

एक पोस्टर से इतना डर! क्यों? pic.twitter.com/RLseE9Djfq

— AAP (@AamAadmiParty) March 22, 2023

Centre and AAP lock horns over Delhi budget

This matter comes amid the fresh tussle between the Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government and the Centre over the Delhi Budget. The Delhi Budget which was supposed to be announced in the assembly on Tuesday was delayed and will be presented on Wednesday (March 22).

This happened as the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) sought clarifications from the AAP government on allocations of funds for infrastructure and advertisements, reported PTI. However, AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal claimed that the Centre had approved the budget "without any change" and questioned why Centre 'stalled' it.

"We replied to them without any other change in the budget. Now, they have given approval to it which proves that their ego was satisfied that the Delhi government bowed down," Kejriwal said as quoted by PTI.

"The Delhi government wants to work and not fight. We are tired of fighting and it serves no one. We want to work together with the prime minister, we do not want any tussle," he further said.

On the other hand, the BJP said that the AAP government didn't address the clarifications sought by the MHA on time and sat on the matter for 3 days and then blamed the Centre for "cheap publicity."