Kolkata: An FIR was filed against actor-turned-politician Paresh Rawal for “provoking riots” following a complaint from CPI(M) leader Mohammed Salim who accused him of “destroying harmony between Bengalis and other communities across the country”.
The former BJP MP was asked to appear before the Kolkata Police on 12 December at Taltala police station in connection with a speech he made in Gujarat on 29 November.
Incidentally, it comes hours after Trinamool Congress (TMC) national spokesperson Saket Gokhale was arrested by Gujarat Police based on a complaint from a BJP functionary for spreading “fake news” about PM Modi and Morbi.
While addressing a campaign in Gujarat’s Valsad, Rawal said, “gas cylinders are expensive, but the price will come down. People will get employment too. But what will happen if Rohingya migrants and Bangladeshis start living around you, like in Delhi? What will you do with gas cylinders? Cook fish for Bengalis?”
His comments caused a row both offline and online. The legal trouble began when Salim lodged a police complaint on 2 December. “A large number of Bengalis reside outside the limits of the state. I apprehend that many of them will be prejudicially targeted and affected because of the vicious remark made by Paresh Rawal,” it read.
Rawal was booked under Sections 153 (wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot), 153A (whoever deliberately or wantonly causes or provokes any riot), 153B (imputation, assertions prejudicial to national integration), 504 (intentional interest with intent to provoke breach of the peace) and 505 (with intent to cause, or which is likely to cause) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
The Bollywood veteran has apologised for his remark after the speech went viral. “Let me clarify, by Bengali, I meant illegal Bangladeshi and Rohingya. But still if I have hurt your feelings and sentiments, I do apologise,” Rawal tweeted Friday.
of course the fish is not the issue AS GUJARATIS DO COOK AND EAT FISH . BUT LET ME CLARIFY BY BENGALI I MEANT ILLEGAL BANGLA DESHI N ROHINGYA. BUT STILL IF I HAVE HURT YOUR FEELINGS AND SENTIMENTS I DO APOLOGISE. 🙏 https://t.co/MQZ674wTzq
— Paresh Rawal (@SirPareshRawal) December 2, 2022
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‘Act of intimidation’
TMC’s national spokesperson Gokhale was arrested late Monday night by Gujarat Police from Jaipur airport for allegedly spreading fake news against Prime Minister Modi over the Morbi bridge collapse.
“In reaction to panic-stricken BJP, our national spokesperson was arrested by Gujarat Police. In their folly to think these acts of intimidation will make us bow down,” said Abhishek Banerjee, Trinamool Congress national general secretary.
Fearless, he stood against the ruling dispensation that trades lives for their own profit.
In reaction, panic-stricken @BJP4India got our Nat'l Spokesperson @SaketGokhale arrested by Gujarat Police.
It's their folly to think these acts of intimidation will make us to bow down!
— Abhishek Banerjee (@abhishekaitc) December 6, 2022
Gokhale was sent to a two-day police remand Tuesday and has been booked under Sections 469 (forgery to harm reputation), 471 (using as genuine a forged document/electronic record), 501 (printing defamatory matter), and 505(b)( statements conducing to public mischief) of IPC.
The complaint against Gokhale was filed by BJP functionary Bhalabhai Kothari, who was “disturbed” by the TMC spokesperson’s tweet in which he posted screenshots of a purported news report which claimed Rs 30 crore was spent for PM Modi’s visit to Morbi after the tragedy took place. The FIR was filed later that day.
(Edited by Theres Sudeep)
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