NEW DELHI: Delhi Police on Friday registered an FIR against
BJP leader
Kapil Mishra on the orders of the chief electoral officer (CEO) for his
"India-Pakistan match" remark .
The FIR was registered at the Model Town police station. Mishra is a BJP candidate from the Model Town assembly constituency.
Earlier, Delhi chief electoral officer Ranbir Singh had directed the cops to lodge an FIR Mishra under the Representation of the People Act 1951 for allegedly trying to aggravate differences between two communities.
The Election Commission had issued a show-cause notice to Mishra for his ‘mini-Pakistan' remarks with reference to the ongoing anti-Citizenship Amendment Act protests at Shaheen Bagh in South Delhi. Mishra had on Thursday remarked that the February 8 poll contest would be a “muqabla” between India and Pakistan and that several “mini-Pakistans” had been created in Delhi and that Shaheen Bagh was being replicated all over the capital.
Complete Coverage on Delhi ElectionsThe EC has already asked Twitter to remove Mishra’s controversial tweet.
The notice sent from the office of the returning officer of Model Town assembly constituency, from where Mishra is BJP candidate, stated that the remarks violated the provisions of the Model Code of Conduct and the Representation of the People Act and is punishable under provisions of the law.
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A row erupted on Thursday when Mishra, in a tweet, likened the February 8 poll contest with a “muqabla” between India and Pakistan and later backed up his comments, “People have occupied the streets at Shaheen Bagh. They are not allowing children to go to schools and adults to offices. They have refused to follow the Constitution and Parliament. Videos are emerging of children talking about the death of PM Narendra Modi and home minister Amit Shah. The site has virtually turned into a mini-Pakistan. It is being backed by political parties,” Mishra said. He had claimed that for political gains, parties were creating Shaheen Bagh-like protest centers. “In such a scenario, Hindustan will stand up against Pakistan and the assembly elections will be a contest between Hindustan and Pakistan,” Mishra had stated.
The EC notice flagged that clause 1(1) of the Model Codde of Conduct stipulates that no party or candidate shall include in any activity which may aggravate existing differences or create mutual hatred or cause tension between different castes and communities, religions or linguistics. The notice stated that in case the reply is unsatisfactory action would be initiated against Mishra without any further notice.
In a four-page reply Mishra said that his comments have been taken out of context and misrepresented intentionally to paint a one-sided picture to stoke differences. “My statement must be seen in the context of Pakistan’s attempt at sending their proxies to take undue advantage of the prevailing law and order situation in Delhi,” Mishra’s reply stated.
Mishra appeared to be standing with his remarks which he elaborated in the reply. Shaheen Bagh protests have witnessed presence of politicians and anti-social elements who spew anti-establishment sentiments on the ground. Seditious and anti-India slogans have been raised at these protests that solely intend to disturb communal harmony and destroy peaceful co-existence, Mishra stated.
He explained in the notice that Shaheen Bagh protests is not a Delhi specific issue but a national one. The protests have been going on even before the Delhi assembly election was announced and the protests are not within the Model Town constituency. “I have only given my general opinion on the issue and not by way of an election rally or speech. These impugned remarks should not be considered as election related statements. They thus do not fall under the ambit of the Model Code of Conduct or Representation of People Act, 1951,” Mishra stated in the notice.
Mishra stated that he has not named any caste, community, religion or linguistic group neither has he intended to aggravate any differences to gain any electoral benefit. “My statement merely refers to two countries, two entities who are not involved in any election process at the national level at present,” he said, adding that the protests are causing inconvenience to the people.