Cong aspirant faces sedition charge over remarks on Modi

Varanasi: Congress candidate in Uttar Pradesh Ajay Rai was on Saturday booked for sedition for allegedly making a hate speech against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, officials said here.

He was also booked for alleged violation of the model code of conduct and COVID-19 protocols during an “unauthorised” election campaign at Rajetara village in the Pindra assembly constituency area of Varanasi district on January 31, they said.

The action against Rai comes close on the heels of a sedition case registered against Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) candidate from Bijnor Neeraj Chaudhary over alleged pro-Pakistan slogans during campaigning for the assembly polls.

The Congress has fielded Rai from the Pindra seat for the elections in the state. The FIR against him, seen by PTI, was lodged at the Phoolpur police station on Saturday evening following a report by the local returning officer of the assembly area. IPC section 124A (sedition), Rai has been booked under sections 269 (unlawfully or negligently spreading infection of any disease dangerous to life), 153 (wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot), 153A (promoting enmity between groups on ground of religion, class etc) and 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), the FIR showed.