JOIN USCase filed against Union minister
A case was lodged against Union Minister of State for Agriculture Sanjeev Baliyan for allegedly calling firebrand Samajwadi Party leader and Uttar Pradesh minister Azam Khan a “terrorist” and an “absconder” in Muzaffarnagar communal riots.
The case was registered after Azam Khan’s representative Fasahat Ali Khan lodged a complaint with police in Amroha district, about 400 kilometres from here, police sources here said on Wednesday.
The case was filed under section 153 of the Indian Penal Code.
The section awards up to one year imprisonment if anyone wantonly does anything illegal knowing that it could provoke rioting.
Police sources said the matter would be investigated. “We will investigate the matter. The speech of the minister will be examined,” said a senior police officer here.
Baliyan, a Lok Sabha member from Muzaffarnagar, while addressing a public meeting in Amroha on Sunday, had allegedly said Azam was the “biggest terrorist”.
Khan had reacted to Baliyan’s remark.
“People should be careful while casting aspersions on others. The mouth that tastes ladoos may also get a man a thrashing. The minister should think about it before making comments,” Azam reportedly said on Tuesday.
SP workers on Wednesday burnt effigies of the Union minister and demanded his resignation for his remarks on Azam.
The SP workers warned of more such demonstrations if Baliyan was not sacked.
Azam had earlier been involved in a verbal duel with BJP MP from Gorakhpur Mahant Adityanath and also with Sakshi Maharaj, another BJP MP from Unnao.