Chargesheet Filed Against Amit Shah For Alleged Hate Speech In Muzaffarnagar

The Uttar Pradesh police has filed a chargesheet against BJP President Amit Shah for allegedly giving a ‘hate speech’ in violation of the model code of conduct while campaigning for the Lok Sabha elections in Muzaffarnagar. The chargesheet was filed in a Muzaffarnagar court for allegedly seeking votes on the basis of religion, race, caste and community.

The chargesheet has been filed under various sections of IPC, including 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, etc.), 295A (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class) and 505 (false statement, rumour, etc. circulated with intent to cause mutiny or offence against the public peace), and Section 123-3 of Representation of People Act (making an appeal to vote on the grounds of religion amounting to corrupt practice).

Shah had allegedly said that the 2014 Lok Sabha election was an opportunity to seek "revenge for the insult" meted out during the riots in Muzaffarnagar in 2013. Shah's political opponents accuse him of using communal tension to electoral advantage, which he has denied.
The ruling Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan was also under fire for similar charges.