Saharnapur/New Delhi: Saharanpur Congress candidate Imran Masood has stirred up a controversy by threatening to "chop Narendra Modi into pieces", inviting sharp criticism from BJP which termed the remark as "inflammatory" and sought strict action by the Election Commission.
The video, which has gone viral on the web, shows Masood attacking the BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate during an election rally in Saharanpur, saying he will "chop him into pieces".
As the matter came to light, a case has been registered against Masood at Devbad police station in the district.
Congress candidate Imran Masood. YouTube screengrab.
"If Modi tries to make Uttar Pradesh into Gujarat, then we will chop him into tiny pieces...I am not scared of getting killed or attacking someone. I will fight against Modi. He thinks UP is Gujarat. Only 4 percent Muslims are there in Gujarat while there are 42 percent Muslims in UP," he said.
However, he later apologised for his remarks, saying "I should have been more cautious with my words" and that the same were said in the heat of electioneering.
Saharanpur District Magistrate as well as District Election Officer Sandhya Tiwari said a CD with the recordings of Masood's statement had been received by them which has been forwarded to the Election Commission.
Masood has been booked under Sections 153 A (promoting enmity between different groups), 295 A (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings or any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs), 504 (Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace), 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC, district authorities said.
BJP condemned Masood's remarks and asked the Election Commission to take strict note of it while also ensuring the safety and security of all its leaders including Modi.
BJP will make an official complaint with the EC on Saturday and a high-level delegation of the party will meet top poll officials in Delhi seeking strong action against Masood's remarks that it says vitiates the atmosphere.
"BJP strongly condemns Imran Masood's statement and we are going to approach the Election Commission by lodging a formal complaint with it," BJP Spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi told reporters in New Delhi.
BJP Vice President Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi alleged that political secularism is being converted into "Talibani secularism" and the kind of language used by Congress leaders is vitiating the atmosphere of elections.
"The Election Commission should take immediate note of it and instruct the state and central governments regarding the serious threat to Modi and other BJP leaders," he said, adding that Congress leaders are indulging in such inflammatory speeches in view of the clear defeat facing them.
He said a high-level delegation of BJP will meet the EC and ask for strong action against the use of such type of language that disturbs communal harmony.
Trivedi said such types of statements not just vitiate the atmosphere but are also against the Model Code of Conduct.
"Election time is very sensitive time. The Centre has a crucial role to play in ensuring safety and security of all candidates, including Narendra Modi," he said.
Naqvi said this is not the first time Congress leaders are indulging in use of such language as they indulge in giving such type of inflammatory speeches in every election to disturb the peaceful atmosphere and add poison to it.
PTI
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