FIR against Beni for anti-Modi remark

An FIR has been registered against Union Steel Minister Beni Prasad Verma in Balrampur for calling BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi the "biggest goonda" of RSS and party's National President Rajnath Singh as his "slave".

Taking cognizance of the statement of Beni Prasad Verma made during campaigning on April 1 last, the local administration finally acted after a week when they registered a case in the matter on night of Monday. An FIR has been lodged in this connection with the Sadullah Nagar police station for violating the Model Code of Conduct and a report has sent to the Election Commission as well.

This is the second case of violation of the model code by the Union Minister. Another case was lodged against him on March 31 in Gonda district for organising a roadshow in 

Tarabganj tehsil in which the number of vehicles was beyond perissible limit. It may be mentioned that the mouth cannon of senior Congress leader, Beni Prasad Verma as well as Samajwadi Party leader, Azam Khan, ignited fresh controversies when one of them dubbed Narendra Modi as the "biggest goon" of RSS and BJP president Rajnath Singh as his "slave", triggering strong reaction from the Opposition party, another called the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate as an elder brother of a "dog's pup".

Addressing an election meeting in Sadullanagar township at Gonda on April 1, Congress candidate, Beni Prasad Verma said Modi is the "biggest goonda" (goon) of RSS as 

the language being used by him in elections is not normally used in democracy. He said while Mahatma Gandhi gave his life for secularism, RSS got him assassinated. "Modi 

could not have become prime ministerial candidate without the nod of Rajnath Singh. This proves that Rajnath Singh is not the president of the party but Modi's slave (ghulam)," 

Verma said. Reacting sharply to Verma's remark, former BJP President Nitin Gadkari said such statements were a result of Congress' "frustration". Party Vice-President Mukhtar 

Abbas Naqvi said several Congress leaders including Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Salman Khurshid have used language which is "inappropriate". "They have crossed all 

limits. A Congress leader recently threatened to cut Modi into pieces.

Such statements only vitiate the peaceful atmosphere during elections," Naqvi said. During his speech, Verma also said that BJP and RSS are a threat to the country and everyone should think about it before voting. The union minister said at the time of Godhra riots, the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee was going to dismiss the Gujarat government but Advani saved Modi. However, now the same veteran BJP leader found it difficult to get himself a party ticket, Beni pointed.