On Thursday, an FIR was filed against Indian National Congress President Sonia Gandhi in the Shivamogga district of Karnataka. The complainant, KV Praveen, alleged that the Congress President has spread rumors and misled the public about the PM Cares Funds.
While speaking to the media, Praveen said that Congress misled the public by calling the newly formed PM Cares Fund as a fraud. He said that the Congress President spread misinformation about the fund saying that the fund is not being used to serve the public but to facilitate Prime Minister’s foreign trips. He said he filed the complaint because at a crucial time like this, the opposition is deliberately spreading rumors against the government. He further said this is being done to create a nuisance among the public.
The officer at the Sagar Town Police station confirmed the news and said the FIR was filed under section 153 that says wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause a riot and section 505 (10)(b) i.e. an intent to cause, or which is likely to cause, fear or alarm to the public.
Congress Demands Withdrawal of FIR
Former Chief Minister Siddaramiah wrote on Twitter and lashed at the complainant and accused him of seeking political benefits from the FIR. He also alleged that the tweet by the Congress President has been misinterpreted. He wrote,
“The decision to file a complaint is based on the incorrect interpretation which is backed by political compulsions & also with an intention to tarnish the public image of Smt. Sonia Gandhi. The tweet (by Sonia Gandhi) echoes the public sentiment of our country amidst unprecedented crisis & was intended to initiate dialogue in the public forum regarding the transparency of the PMCares fund, which is a reflection of a healthy democracy.”
The decision to file a complaint is based on incorrect interpretation which is backed by political compulsions & also with an intention to tarnish the public image of Smt. Sonia Gandhi.
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— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) May 21, 2020
The President of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee DK Shivakumar wrote a letter to Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa to withdraw the FIR filed by the BJP activist. In the letter, he accused the police officer of misusing the law. He wrote,
“Smt. Sonia Gandhiji being an MP and Congress President had tweeted with the intention of forcing the Prime Minister to use the Care Fund for the welfare of the people of the country. Unfortunately, this was misinterpreted by the BJP leadership and it instigated Sri Praveen Kumar to file the complaint. Therefore, we hereby demand your good self to withdraw the FIR and to suspend the said police officer immediately.”
Source: Scroll.in
