When did the arrest take place?
Jignesh Mevani, a Congress MLA was first commuted to Ahmedabad by road and then taken to Assam in the early hours of the morning. Mevani’s office in a statement mentioned that he was arrested by the Assam police from Palanpur Circuit House at 11:30 pm on Wednesday.
Grounds of arrest
The Dalit leader was arrested on grounds of a First Information Report (FIR) which was filed against him under section 153A of the Indian Penal Code which deals with offenses that promote enmity between communities.
The complaint which was filed at Kokrajhar Police station alleged that the MLA, in one of his tweets had stated that the PM idolized Nathuram Godse and asked the PM to make appeals for the maintenance of harmony in the state of Gujarat.
The tweet has been withheld by Twitter in response to a legal demand as well as for the violation of its guidelines. As per the screenshots that have been doing rounds on social media Mevani tweeted “PM worships Godse and the PM on his Gujarat visit must appeal for calm and harmony in Himmat Nagar, Khambat and Veraval in light of the recent events of communal violence in the state”.
He also poked fun at the Prime Minister by calling him” the maker of the grand temple”
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Who filed the complaint?
The complaint was lodged by Arup Kumar Dey, a Bhartiya Janta Party leader from Bhabanipur Village in western Assam’s Kokrajhar district. The FIR was filed on April 19 at the Kokrajhar police station. The FIR against the MLA propounded that his tweets have the propensity to disturb public tranquillity and are prejudicial to the maintenance of harmony among a certain section of people.
The complaint also added that his tweet might “incite a section of the masses and destroy the social fabric”. The complainer also suspects that there may be people working behind doors trying to capitalize on sensitive issues like these, to disturb the unity, peace, and brotherhood of the country.
Mevani is an independent MLA from the Vadagam seat in Banaskantha. He had recently joined hands with the Congress party. Mevani’s supporters have accused the police of arresting him under a non-bailable offense under provisions of the Information and Technology Act without having a copy of the FIR.
Kokrajhar’s Superintendent of Police did not accept any calls nor did he make any public comments concerning the allegedly objectionable arrest.
Political Reactions
Minutes after the midnight arrest, the Gujrat Congress posted a video on its official Twitter handle which showcased the Jignesh Mevani, talking to the media while being escorted by the police. While addressing the media Mevani made it clear that no prior information was provided to him about the case.
“I have not been informed about the case nor have been shown any papers related to the case”.
Mevani confirmed that his tweet was written with good intentions to promote communal harmony and brotherhood. “My arrest is a violation of the norms, I will continue to fight”, he said. Upon hearing of the arrest several Congress leaders including Jagdish Thakor rushed to Ahmedabad airport and started shouting slogans against the BJP government.
Published By: Aman Gupta
Edited By: Vanshika Sahu
