Delhi Police has arrested BJP leader and Supreme Court lawyer Ashwini Upadhyay over a case of inflammatory and anti-Muslim slogans being raised at a rally organised by him in Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on Sunday. Singh, who was questioned by the police till late last night was arrested on Monday along with five others.
Tuesday’s arrest came following widespread outrage after videos of the violent slogans threatening harm to Muslims went viral on news and social media.
The event, organised by former Delhi BJP spokesperson Upadhyay, was meant to be a rally against “colonial-era laws”. According to reports, organisers of the event did not have permission from Delhi Police for conducting the same.
“Five people including Ashwani Upadhyay to be examined in connection with inflammatory sloganeering near Jantar Mantar on Sunday,” said Delhi Police.
The matter will be handled as per the law and no attempts to spread communal disharmony will be tolerated, the Delhi Police said.
Hundreds of people had attended the protest organised by Bharat Jodo Aandolan at Jantar Mantar on Sunday.
The video shows a group of people shouting inflammatory slogans and threatening Muslims during the protest at Jantar Mantar.
Meanwhile, Ashwini has denied any involvement in the sloganeering. “I have submitted a complaint to the Delhi Police to examine the video which went viral. If the video is authentic, then strict action should be taken against the persons who were involved in it,” he said.
“I have no idea who they are. I have never seen them, never met them and neither called them there. Till the time I was there, they were not seen there. If the video is fake, then a propaganda is being circulated to defame Bharart Jodo Andolan,” he added.
According to Deepak Yadav, DCP, New Delhi, people who had gathered at Jantar Mantar had no permission. “It has come to our due notice that some people raised inciting and objectionable slogans as well. We have also received a video and have registered FIR in the case. We are carrying out further investigation into the matter. Necessary action will be taken at the earliest.” he said.
