Daijiworld Media Network – Lucknow
Lucknow, May 23: Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Rai has been booked by the Uttar Pradesh police for allegedly making “objectionable” remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a public programme in Mahoba district.
The FIR was registered at Kotwali Nagar police station on Saturday based on a complaint filed by BJP worker Neeraj Rawat.
According to the complaint, Rai allegedly used “abusive and objectionable language” against the Prime Minister while addressing an event organised by former Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee secretary Brijraj Ahirwar on May 22 in Samad Nagar locality of Mahoba district.
The complainant also alleged that Rai arrived at the venue with a convoy of 15 to 16 vehicles accompanied by 25 to 30 supporters, causing obstruction on public roads and disrupting normal movement in the area.
Rawat further claimed that police and administrative officials had to divert from their routine duties to maintain law and order during the programme. He also stated that videos of Rai’s remarks against PM Modi later went viral on social media.
Rejecting the allegations, Rai termed the purported video as fake and AI-generated by the BJP. He told PTI that he would file a police complaint regarding the matter after reaching Lucknow.
Several BJP leaders, including Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and BJP state president Pankaj Chaudhary, condemned the alleged remarks.
Police said the FIR has been registered against Rai, Brijraj Ahirwar and 25 to 30 unidentified supporters under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Sections 126(2) (wrongful restraint), 132 (assault or criminal force to deter a public servant from duty), 189(2) (unlawful assembly), 196(1) (promoting enmity between groups) and 352 (intentional insult aimed at provoking breach of peace).
In his complaint, Rawat alleged that the remarks hurt public sentiments, angered BJP workers and created social tension. He also submitted a pen drive containing the purported viral video as evidence and sought legal action against the accused.
The controversy comes amid an ongoing political row in Uttar Pradesh over Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s recent “traitor” remarks targeting PM Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh during a rally in Raebareli.
Earlier this week, cross complaints were also filed in Lucknow against Rahul Gandhi and Uttar Pradesh minister Dinesh Pratap Singh over the remarks and the BJP leader’s response.