FIR Sparks Furor: Congress Leaders Slam Indore Police Over Action on Twitter Handles
New Delhi: Indore Police’s recent filing of an FIR against the Twitter handles of Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi, former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath, and former Union Minister Arun Yadav has ignited a heated exchange between political rivals. The move has invoked a sharp response from Manoj Jha, a prominent leader of the ‘India’ alliance, who has criticized the perceived use of legal action to stifle opposition voices.
RJD MP Manoj Jha voiced his concerns, stating, “Why file a case? Just put them in jail… It seems that anything can be said now. Only yesterday, the Prime Minister claimed that AIIMS had been established in Darbhanga, despite no foundation being laid there.” Jha criticized the apparent disparity in treatment, where asking legitimate questions is met with legal action.
Highlighting the broader implications, Jha cautioned against the perceived manipulation of democratic institutions. He expressed concern that the government, under the pretext of democracy, was resorting to tactics that involved harassment through various agencies, from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and now through legal cases. He labeled this trend as alarming and detrimental to the democratic fabric.
#WATCH | Patna: On FIR registered against Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, former CM Kamal Nath and others in Madhya Pradesh, RJD MP Manoj Jha says, "They are left with nothing (no issues)… Earlier they were using ED against the opposition leaders now they are registering FIR. They are… pic.twitter.com/xopCev6DQD
— ANI (@ANI) August 13, 2023
The Madhya Pradesh Congress, for its part, responded to the situation with a scathing tweet. “If you seek information about the most corrupt government in the country, you need only look at the Shivraj government of Madhya Pradesh,” the party tweeted, accusing the ruling party of being embroiled in various alleged scams.
The FIR, registered under sections 469, 500, and 501 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), pertains to defamation and the dissemination of false information through a fabricated letter. The accused include Gyanendra Awasthi, as well as Congress leaders Priyanka Gandhi, Kamal Nath, Arun Yadav, Jairam Ramesh, and Shobha Ojha, whose Twitter handles were used to share the news.
#WATCH | Indore: On FIR registered against Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, former CM Kamal Nath and others in Madhya Pradesh, Congress leader Shobha Ojha says, "Everyone knows about the corruption going on in the state…They (BJP) are pointing out those leaders of that party, who fought… https://t.co/FGc1q3HZAk pic.twitter.com/4pgHXwEaMl
— ANI MP/CG/Rajasthan (@ANI_MP_CG_RJ) August 13, 2023
DCP Crime Branch Shrut Kirti Somvanshi clarified that the sections invoked were bailable, but all named individuals would be called in for questioning to ascertain the authenticity of the organization mentioned in the letter. The letter, addressed to the Chief Justice, accused the state government of corrupt practices.
Shobha Ojha, one of the leaders named in the FIR, defended her party and condemned the alleged targeting of those who had fought for the nation’s freedom. Ojha reaffirmed her party’s determination to challenge the FIR.
The incident centers around a tweet posted from Priyanka Gandhi’s Twitter handle on August 11, 2023. The tweet cited a viral post from social media and a newspaper article, accusing the Madhya Pradesh BJP government of corruption and comparing it to the government in Karnataka.
मध्य प्रदेश में ठेकेदारों के संघ ने हाईकोर्ट के मुख्य न्यायाधीश को पत्र लिखकर शिकायत की है कि प्रदेश में 50% कमीशन देने पर ही भुगतान मिलता है।
— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) August 11, 2023
कर्नाटक में भ्रष्ट BJP सरकार 40% कमीशन की वसूली करती थी। मध्य प्रदेश में BJP भ्रष्टाचार का अपना ही रिकॉर्ड तोड़कर आगे निकल गई है।… pic.twitter.com/LVemnZQ9b6