Image credit: PTI
NEW DELHI: After an FIR was lodged against Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Rai over alleged objectionable remarks targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Congress leader hit back at the BJP-led government, claiming the case was aimed at diverting attention from the alleged rape of a young Dalit girl in Mahoba.Speaking to PTI, Rai said the incident involved a young Dalit girl from Mahoba who was subjected to rape for 16 consecutive days. “Where was the police during those 16 days? Where was the government?” he asked. Rai alleged that authorities deployed the entire police force specifically to prevent him from visiting the victim’s home. “They had stationed security forces all across the Bundelkhand Highway. Yet, our party workers, including our colleague Brijraj Ahirwar, former MLA from the region Gayadin Anuragi, Pushpendra Singh, and all the local district presidents, came together and managed to lead me to her house,” he said.He claimed that the police tried to stop them, and that the administration and the government simply did not want him to go there.Rai further alleged that an AI-generated video of him was being circulated to divert attention from the matter. “Now, in an attempt to divert attention from these grave matters and to suppress the truth, an AI-generated video of me is being circulated. I wish to state this with absolute certainty,” he said. “Go ahead and file not just one, but a hundred lawsuits against me, register a hundred FIRs, but ensure that justice is delivered to that young Dalit girl from Mahoba,” Rai added.An FIR was registered against Rai, former Congress committee secretary Brijraj Ahirwar, and 30 unidentified supporters at Kotwali Nagar police station in Mahoba over alleged derogatory remarks against PM Modi and alleged violation of public order during a political gathering on May 22.The complaint, filed by a BJP district working committee member, alleged that Rai arrived with a convoy of 15-16 vehicles and around 25-30 supporters, parked in a disorderly manner causing traffic obstruction, and made “objectionable and abusive” remarks against the Prime Minister.A video of the alleged remarks has gone viral on social media, the complaint stated.Police have invoked sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita including unlawful assembly, promoting enmity between groups, and breach of peace. Additional SP Vandana Singh said further legal action would be taken after verification of the allegations and examination of the video evidence.
