News Analysis India

Tag: Vikram Randhawa

  • FIR against BJP leader over hate speech

    By Express News Service

    SRINAGAR:  The police in Jammu and Kashmir has registered an FIR against a senior J&K BJP leader and former MLC Vikram Randhawa for hate speech while the saffron party has acted against him and relieved him of all party posts and served show cause notice asking him to tender public apology or face strict disciplinary action.

    Sources said an FIR No 357 of 2021 under sections 295-A and 505(2) has been registered against Randhawa at Bahu Nagar Police Station in Jammu for hurting religious sentiments and promoting enmity between religious groups.

    The FIR was registered after a video of Randhawa in which made derogatory remarks about the Kashmiri Muslims had gone viral. In the undated video, Randhawa was purportedly telling his supporters, “I think the agencies are doing a good job.

    They are not taking celebrations in Kashmir over Pakistan’s victory over India in World T20 match casually. Since the beginning, we have been demanding that not just their (academic) degrees be cancelled, their citizenship must also be revoked. They should be beaten up and skinned alive”.

    The hate speech by the BJP leader evoked strong resentment and condemnations from all sections of society. J&K BJP president Ravinder Raina said it was unacceptable that a person occupying high position in the party makes a statement, which hurts religious sentiments. 

    Targeted union minister earlierEarlier, this year, Randhawa had levelled allegations against senior J&K BJP leader and Union MoS PMO Dr Jitendra Singh. However, he apologised to Singh soon after

  • Jammu and Kashmir BJP leader booked for hurting religious sentiments

    By PTI

    JAMMU: An FIR has been registered against a senior Jammu and Kashmir BJP leader for allegedly hurting the religious sentiments of a community, officials said on Tuesday.

    The case was registered after a video, which surfaced online, purportedly showed Vikram Randhawa making the remarks, they said.

    The party’s Jammu and Kashmir unit has taken note of the video of former MLC Randhawa and served him a show cause notice on Monday, asking him to explain his position within 48 hours and submit a public apology.

    “An FIR has been registered against Randhawa at a police station here under section 295-A and 505 (2) of the Indian Penal Code and further investigation is on,” a police official said.

    Section 295-A pertains to deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious belief, while section 505 (2) gives powers to the police to arrest anyone who makes a statement which creates or promotes enmity, hatred or ill-will between classes.

    Randhawa is accused of making disparaging comments over the incidents of celebration of Pakistan’s win over India in a cricket match in the ongoing T20 world cup in Dubai.

    In the show cause notice served to Randhawa on Monday, the BJP disciplinary committee, headed by Sunil Sethi, asked him o explain his position within 48 hours.

    “A video has gone viral in social media in which you are seen making absolutely reckless and hatred promoting remarks against a particular community. This is unacceptable to the party and has brought disrepute and embarrassment to the party,” the notice read.

    BJP Jammu and Kashmir president Ravinder Raina, who ordered the disciplinary action against the former legislator, had said he was personally hurt after hearing the comments of Randhawa.

    He said that the remarks “are totally against the basic principles of the party which believes in respecting all faiths and taking everyone along in accordance with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s slogan of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas and Sabka Vishwas’”.

    Randhawa’s remarks have caused an outrage across Jammu and Kashmir with people demanding action against him in accordance with the law.

    PTI TAS AB National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah has said, “So good to see this man making friends with Kashmiri people! He should be made an example out of and the law should deal with him firmly to dissuade others from being as abusive as this man has been.”

  • J&K Congress seeks Union minister Jitendra Singh’s resignation over corruption charges

    By PTI
    JAMMU: Jammu and Kashmir Congress on Tuesday demanded the resignation of Union minister Jitendra Singh and a high-level probe into allegations of corruption levelled against him by BJP leader and former MLC Vikram Randhawa.

    The Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party (JKAP) too demanded a probe into the matter.

    J-K BJP secretary Randhawa, who is the president of Stone Crusher Owners Association, has levelled serious allegations against Singh’s office in Jammu over the issue of mining policy and also threatened to immolate himself.

    The party’s disciplinary committee served Randhawa a show-cause notice, hours after he went public against Singh.

    On Tuesday, a group of Congress workers led by its youth wing president Uday Bhanu Chib assembled at the party’s headquarters here and staged a protest to press for the Union minister’s resignation.

    “Randhawa’s sensational disclosure removed the lid on the nexus between the mining mafia and the BJP. There should be a high-level probe into the allegations,” Chib told reporters.

    Earlier, Congress councilor Gaurav Chopra alleged that the auctioning of minerals and wine shops was a well-planned conspiracy to loot the locals.

    The J&K Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) also took strong exception to the allegations levelled by Randhawa and sought the resignation of Singh pending a high-level probe.

    “The serious allegations of ‘hafta culture’ under the patronage of higher-ups need a probe. Let the law of land and propriety take its course,” the JKPCC said in a statement.

    It said a high-level probe is a must to expose the alleged nexus.

    “This is a test case for the Modi government and the UT administration, and heads should roll to send a clear message, otherwise people will further lose faith in the system,” the statement said.

    JKAP provincial president and former minister Manjit Singh too said an impartial probe was imperative to uncover the alleged involvement of the Union minister and mining officials.

    “A probe is must to expose the mining mafia and their associates which ultimately compelled a former legislator of the ruling political party to speak publicly against his own party leaders, mining department officials and police department,” he said.

    “Families of local miners have been suffering due to this nexus, which works in a well-organised manner. We will not allow the mining mafia to flourish in J&K,” the JKAP leader added.

  • J-K BJP leader served showcause after his outburst against Union Minister Jitendra Singh

    By PTI
    JAMMU: Senior Jammu and Kashmir BJP leader and former MLC Vikram Randhawa got a showcause notice by the party’s disciplinary committee, hours after he levelled corruption charges against Union minister Jitendra Singh.

    Randhawa has been asked to reply within two days along with any evidence to prove his claim.

    Randhawa, who is the president of Stone Crusher Owners Association, levelled serious allegations of corruption against Singh’s office in Jammu over the issue of mining policy and also threatened to immolate himself next week.

    Singh’s office in Jammu had also taken serious note of the allegations and set a deadline for Randhawa of 24 hours, asking him to prove his allegations or seek a public apology otherwise get ready to face a defamation case of Rs 1 crore.

    “This notice of show cause initiates disciplinary proceedings against you in line with directions of Jammu and Kashmir Bhartiya Janata Party President (Ravinder Raina) with regard to addressing a press conference and a series of media interactions by you while leveling unfounded allegations against a senior leader of party holding responsible position in the Union Council of ministers,” reads a letter by the three-member disciplinary committee addressed to party Secretary Randhawa.

    The letter, signed by the chairman of the BJP’s disciplinary committee Sunil Sethi and members Virenderjeet Singh and N D Rajwal, took note of the “unparliamentary language” used by the leader, terming it “highly objectionable”.

    “More so, this has prima facie tarnished the image of the party, believing strictly in discipline and decency.

    You are hereby directed to file your reply alongwith evidence, if any available with you, within next two days,” the letter said, adding on receipt of the reply, the next date in the matter would be fixed.

    The letter said the proceedings would be done expeditiously and the report will be submitted to J&K BJP president within two weeks positively.

    Earlier during the day, Randhawa said he had not rebelled against the party or the leadership, but wanted the “facts” to reach the high command including Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

    Randhawa alleged that the registered stone crushers are facing the worst of the times since 2017 and their children are on the verge of starvation due to the mining department.

    He made allegations of Singh’s Jammu office being hand-in-glove with the mining department of the union territory.

    “I want to clarify that BJP has no role in it. I have been a BJP worker for the last 30 years while Singh is just a decade old and was introduced into the party by me and also ensured a ticket to him in 2014 parliamentary elections,” he said.

    Reacting to the allegations of the senior party leader, BJP executive member, Sanjeev Sharma expressed his displeasure, saying, “He had levelled allegations on this office as well as the Union Minister directly.

    “If he had any proof, he should come forward within 24 hours and make it public or otherwise tender a public apology to the Union minister who has decided to file a defamation case of Rs one crore against him,” Sharma told reporters at a presser here.

    Meanwhile, the Congress has demanded an impartial probe into the allegations leveled by senior BJP leader against party colleague in the Prime Minister’s office.

    “It is a serious matter as allegations were leveled against a senior BJP leader in the PMO and bureaucracy…we appeal to Lt Governor to order a high level probe to unravel the truth,” senior Congress leader and former minister Yogesh Sawhney said.