BJP initiates disciplinary proceedings against Randhawa, removes him of all party posts, responsibilities pending enquiry
JAMMU, NOVEMBER 2: Senior BJP leader and former MLC Vikram Randhawa has landed in trouble for his alleged hate speech as the Jammu and Kashmir Police have registered a case against him for hurting religious sentiments of particular community.
Sources said that an FIR No. 357 of 2021 has been registered at Trikuta Nagar Police Station under provisions of Sections 295-A and 505 (2) of the Indian Penal Code.
Section 295A of IPC relates to deliberate and malicious act intended to outrage the religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs and provide for imprisonment up to 4 years, or fine, or both.
Section 505(2) of IPC provide for punishment up to three years, or with fine, or both, to one making a statement creating or promoting enmity, hatred, or ill-will between classes.
Meanwhile, BJP has divested Randhawa of all party posts and responsibilities including the post of UT secretary with immediate effect, a party statement issued here said. J&K BJP Vice President and former minister Sham Choudhary shall be new prabhari/incharge of district Rajouri, it added.Pointing out that disciplinary proceedings have been initiated against Vikram Randhwa for making “reckless and defamatory remarks against particular community and woman folk”, it said thattaking away all party responsibility from Randhawa followed interim report by the Disciplinary Committee headed by Sunil Sethi Chairman and having S. Virenderjeet Singh as member and Sh. N. D. Rajwal as members.
Accepting the interim report pending disciplinary proceedings against him, UT BJP president Ravinder Raina felt strongly that “disparaging remarks have been made against Woman folk as also against Particular Community and have hurt religious sentiments of our brothers and sisters”.
Party President decided to take strict and strong action against Randhwa without wasting any time as party believes in respecting all religions Particularly women and it is unacceptable to party that a person occupying high position in party may make statement which will hurt religious sentiments of anyone.
A video of Randhawa has gone viral on Social Media on the basis of which Police have booked him. In the video, Randhawa is heard purportedly saying that those who celebrated Pakistan’s victory against India in the recent T20 World Cup should not only be beaten up and skinned, but their Indian citizenship should also be cancelled.
In the video, Randhawa purportedly says, “These 22- or 23-year-old girls, who roam around in Jammu in veils, were in Kashmir throwing their jackets in the air and raising pro-Pakistan slogans. And these girls in the age group of 21-22 are praising Pakistan and have sympathy for it in their hearts.”
“ All those involved in this kind of activity should be beaten up and skinned. They should be treated such that their coming generations too remember the result of raising anti-India slogans or pro-Pakistan slogans on Indian soil,” he says. “Not only them, their parents should also realise what kind of ungrateful children they have given birth to.”
“Since the very beginning, we have demanded that their degrees be cancelled. We also demand that their citizenship should also be cancelled and they be beaten up and skinned,” he says.
The video evoked protests in the Muslim community, with many people approaching police for action against BJP leader.
Randhawa, however, said the video was doctored to project his remarks in a wrong context.
PDP president and former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti in a tweet said no action was being taken against the former legislator “who calls for genocide of Kashmiris & to skin them alive”.
“But J&K students are charged with sedition for merely cheering the winning team. India is surely the mother of all democracies,” she said.
