Case against Beni for controversial remarks against Modi

Gonda: District administration has lodged a case against Union Minister Beni Prasad Verma for his alleged controversial remarks against BJP`s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi.

District Magistrate Vikas Gothalwal today said that during a meeting in Itiyathok area on April 3, the Union Steel Minister had used alleged derogatory remarks against Modi. Taking cognisance of the remarks, the district administration has lodged an FIR at Itiyathok police station yesterday for violating the Model Code of Conduct and has sent the report to the Election Commission as well, he said. This is the third case of violation of the Model Code of Conduct against the Union Minister as similar cases were lodged earlier on March 31 and April 8 in Gonda and Balrampur districts respectively. Facing competition from Akbar Ahmed Dumpy (BSP) and Masoor Khan (Peace Party) at a time when BJP is confident of getting support of Hindus in the constituency, Verma, ostensibly addressing the sizeable Muslim population in Itiyathok area of Gonda from where he is seeking re-election, had said, "Country is like a temple of democracy and we all have to protect and guard it". "It is the duty of all Hindus and Muslims to guard the country and temple of democracy from dogs (who are out to soil it)," Verma had said. The Union Minister had noted that in these elections everyone is out to become the Prime Minister.