The State BJP has termed the Government’s move of slapping an FIR against State BJP president and Rajya Sabha MP Deepak Prakash, Kanke MLA Samri Lal and over 70 unnamed others under the Epidemic Act as political vendetta. Opposing the move, senior BJP leader and party legislative party leader Babulal Marandi has written a letter to Director General of Police (DGP), Niraj Sinha stating that the government’s move is against the freedom of speech and expression as guaranteed by Constitution.
On June 18, BJP leaders including Prakash and others had staged a dharna at Kanke block against the State’s policy for farmers. An FIR was lodged against these leaders for staging a protest in violation of the lockdown rules. This is perhaps the first time since the outbreak of the pandemic in March last year when members of political parties were booked under the Epidemic Act.
Marandi, though his letter raised the issue of double standards by the State Government stating that going by the same yardstick, Congress leaders should also be charged under the same provisions for violating the lockdown rules.
He stated that the state government is misusing its power to silence the democratic protest made by BJP. He stated that on June 11, the Congress leadership under state president and state finance minister Rameshwar Oroan staged a protest against rise in fuel prices across the state, but no action was taken against these leaders. Similarly, on the same day state labour resources Minister Satyanand Bhokta organised a birthday party of RJD chief Lalu Prasad in Chatra where hundreds of people attended, but no action was taken.
He also said that the Congress leadership on June 19 also celebrated the birthday of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi at the party office which too was attended by hundreds of leaders, but no action was taken in this connection too. Marandi, through his letter urged the DGP to take action against Congress and RJD leadership as per laws.
Meanwhile, the State BJP will observe June 23 as black day and anti-emergency day. Addressing a press conference at the BJP office, former state president Dineshanand Goswami said that 47 years ago then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi imposed emergency in the country in violation of Constitutional power. Taking a dictatorial attitude, Indira Gandhi arbitrarily abolished censorship on the press, jailed opposition leaders and civil right activists. Fundamental rights were blunted. Due to the movement to restore democracy, many opposition leaders including former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, LK Advani had to face torture. Most of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh activists had to spend 19 months in jail.