Embarrassment for UP govt as court returns chargesheet filed against BJP chief Amit Shah

Lucknow: In a major embarrassment for the Samajwadi Party government led by Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, a local court on Thursday returned the chargesheet filed yesterday by the Uttar Pradesh Police against BJP national president Amit Shah for an alleged hate speech he made in April ahead of the national election.

As per reports, the court returned the chargesheet with some adverse remarks over the manner in which it was filed by the UP Police.

The development comes as a major embarrassment for the SP, which has blamed BJP for trying to divide the state on communal lines. The top police officers are now studying the judge’s comments over the chargesheet. Taking cue from the development, state BJP today hit back at the ruling party, saying the police action against Shah is politically motivated.

Shah was on Wednesday chargesheeted for a hate speech made by him in the run-up to the General Elections by the local police in Muzaffarnagar, which was hit by communal violence last year.

The BJP chief was booked by the UP police on the basis of a video clip of his alleged hate speech, which he delivered there in April. Addressing a rally in Muzaffarnagar, Shah had reportedly said that “this election is about voting out the government that protects and gives compensation to those who killed Jats. It is about ‘badla’ (revenge) and protecting ‘izzat’ (honour)”.

He 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”, several parties, including the Congress had complained to the Election Commission and sought action against him.

The Congress sought his arrest and asked the panel to ban him from campaigning for “creating animosity between communities” in western Uttar Pradesh.

The Congress party also demanded “stern action” against the BJP and Narendra Modi, including de-recognition of the party, for the alleged violation of the model code of conduct.

The party said Amit Shah committed an offence under section 125 of the Representation of Peoples Act, 1951, which calls for the immediate registration of an FIR and his arrest.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) also went to the poll panel, seeking action against the former Gujarat minister for spreading communal hatred.

A complaint to the poll panel and minorities commission was also filed by Delhi-based lawyer and activist Shehzad Poonawalla.