A BJP leader in Rajasthan's Kota district has filed a sedition and defamation case against suspended Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar for praising Pakistan and allegedly insulting India at an event in Karachi.
At the February 11 event, Aiyar had hailed Pakistan for seeking to resolve issues with India through dialogue, saying New Delhi does not have this policy, according to Pakistani media reports.
The additional chief judicial magistrate court in Kota admitted the case filed by Ashok Choudhary, the head of BJP's Kota district OBC wing, and posted it for hearing on Tuesday.
Choudhary had recently written to BJP chief Amit Shah, seeking replacement for Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje and state party chief Ashok Parnami, after the party lost two Lok Sabha seats and one Assembly seat in the recently-held bypolls in the state.
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He has filed the case against Aiyar under sections 124(A), 500 and 504 of the Indian Penal Code. The BJP leader has claimed that Aiyar openly expressed love for Pakistan and said that he was proud of Islamabad's stand of not initiating talks with New Delhi.
Choudhary stated in his petition that the suspended Congress leader also insulted India by saying that it was not interested in resolving issues with Pakistan through dialogue.
He stated that Aiyar's statements in favour of Pakistan have deeply hurt his patriotism and love for his country.
Aiyar's reported remarks came at a time when Pakistan-backed terrorists have been carrying out attacks on the Indian Army. Jaish-e-Mohammad and Lashkar-e-Taiba have targeted the security forces in Jammu and Kashmir over the past two weeks.
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Choudhary claimed that Aiyar, a former central minister, committed a criminal offence by making statements against India.
He said Aiyar's statements and expression of love for Pakistan falls in the category of sedition and defamation and the court is requested to prosecute Aiyar under sections 124 (A), 500 and 504.
PTI
