Mayawati slur row: No relief for expelled BJP leader Dayashankar Singh from Allahabad HC

In what is likely to aggravate trouble for expelled BJP leader Dayashankar Singh, the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court on Thursday refused to put a stay on his arrest in connection with his abusive remarks against BSP chief Mayawati.

Lucknow: Amid mounting trouble for expelled BJP leader Dayashankar Singh, the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court on Thursday adjourned hearing on a plea seeking a stay on his arrest in connection with his abusive remarks against BSP chief Mayawati.

The high court bench adjourned the hearing on his plea till August 8.

Singh had on Tuesday moved the Allahabad High Court bench in Lucknow seeking a stay on his possible arrest and challenging the FIR lodged against him by BSP leaders for using “derogatory” language against their party chief.

An FIR was lodged against Singh on July 20, at Hazratganj Police Station in Lucknow under the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act for passing “derogatory” comments against Mayawati.

The complaint, which was lodged by BSP National Secretary Mewalal Gautam, alleged that Singh’s remarks had hurt the feelings of BSP workers and the Dalit community across the country and were aimed at provoking them.

Referring to Singh’s comments telecast on national TV channels, he had said they were so derogatory that they could not be mentioned in the complaint and so a CD of the speech was being submitted.

“Singh was aware that his offensive comments could trigger a strong reaction and riot,” the complaint said, adding this amounted to an offence under the SC/ST Act and a case was needed to be lodged against him.

Singh, who was State BJP vice-president, was expelled by the party last week for six years in the wake of the storm triggered by his remarks against the BSP chief.