In tit for tat, BJP protests BSP's derogatory remarks

On Saturday, it was the BJP’s turn to take to the streets to protest the use of foul language by BSP leaders against their expelled leader Daya Shankar Singh’s family.

According to police sources here, the BJP workers held demonstrations across the state demanding the arrest of BSP general secretary Naseemuddin Siddique and other leaders for using derogatory words against Singh’s wife Swati and their minor daughter.

The BJP workers, including a large number of women, had a scuffle with the police, when the officers tried to stop them from marching towards Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav’s
residence.

State BJP chief Keshav Prasad Maurya said on Saturday the party would again take to the streets if Siddique and the others were not arrested. “BSP chief Mayawati should have thrown Siddique out,” Maurya said.

Meanwhile, the UP government provided police security to Swati. On Friday, she claimed to have received a threat to her life from Mayawati and sought security from the authorities.

Mayawati, Siddique and state BSP president Ram Achal Rajbhar were booked under Sections 120 B (conspiracy), 153 A (promoting enmity between different groups on the grounds of religion, race), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace) and 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult modesty of a woman).

The FIR was lodged after Singh’s mother Tetari Devi and his wife lodged separate complaints with the police accusing Mayawati and others of using foul language. The BSP workers had on Thursday staged a demonstration here to protest the use of derogatory words against Mayawati by Singh.