Former Madhya Pradesh minister and Congress leader Raja Pateriya, stoked a controversy after his purported comments that people should be prepared to carry out Prime Minister Modi's "hatya" (murder), if the Constitution is to be saved.
After a row following his alleged remark, which has since then gone viral on social media after which several BJP supporters clamoured for his arrest. Pateriya on Monday offered a clarification stating that his comments were wrongly interpreted and that he meant defeating Modi electorally.
"A video has surfaced on yesterday's card distribution of the Mandalam sector in Powai, in which it is alleged that i had said I will kill Modi. I am a follower of Gandhi and a follower of Gandhi cannot talk of the murder of anybody. The video is a misinterpretation," Pateriya said.
"What i meant to say was it is necessary to defeat him to save this country's Constitution. It is necessary to defeat Modi to protect minorities, Dalits, and tribals and to remove unemployment. My intention the 'assassination of Modi' has been misrepresented," Pateriya said.
Pateriya purportedly made the controversial remarks on Sunday at a meeting of Mandalam Sector presidents organized by the District Congress Committee at Powai Rest House, which was attended by senior party leaders including Raja Pateriya, District Congress in-charge Manoj Trivedi and several party workers. Pateriya the former Madhya Pradesh minister could be heard saying that "PM Modi will "end elections, divide people on the basis of religion and Dalits face the biggest threat under his regime". "You should be ready to carry out 'Modi ki hatya' if you want to save the Constitution...hatya (kill) in the sense of defeating him," Pateriya is heard saying.
Meanwhile, Madhya Pradesh home minister Narottam Mishra said that he has instructed the state police to file an FIR against Raja Pateriya with immediate effect.
"It is expected of Congress that their national leaders use bad language against the Prime Minister. This is the reason that the Congress is losing its relevance in the country. I have instructed SP of Panna to register an FIR against Raja Pateriya with immediate effect," Mishra said.
( With inputs from ANI )
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