Hate speech case against J-K BJP leader, the party asked to apologize

An FIR has been registered against a senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader in Jammu and Kashmir for allegedly hurting the religious sentiments of a community. Officials gave this information on Tuesday. He said that a case was registered against former councilor Vikram Randhawa after a video surfaced. The party's Jammu and Kashmir unit took cognizance of Randhawa's video and issued him a show-cause notice on Monday, asking him to present his case within 48 hours and publicly apologize.

"An FIR has been registered against Randhawa under sections 295-A and 505(2) of the Indian Penal Code at a police station here and further investigation is on," a police official said. Randhawa is accused of making derogatory remarks on the celebrations after Pakistan's victory in the match against India in the T20 Cricket World Cup in Dubai. BJP issued a show-cause notice to Randhawa on Monday.

The BJP disciplinary committee headed by Sunil Sethi has asked him to explain his position within 48 hours. The notice said, 'A video has gone viral on social media, in which you are seen making hate statements against a particular community. This is unacceptable to the party and has brought disrepute and embarrassment to the party.

The party's Jammu and Kashmir unit president Ravindra Raina, who ordered disciplinary action against Randhawa, said he was personally hurt after hearing Randhawa's remarks. He said his remarks were against the core principles of the party as it believed in respecting all religions and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's slogan of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, and Sabka Vishwas'. National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah said, "He should be made an example and the law should take strict action against him so that others can be stopped from doing so."