Lucknow: Samajwadi Party (SP) member Mukesh Siddharth, 62, was arrested by a unit of Meerut police from a hotel in Delhi on Sunday night for his “derogatory” remarks against UP minister of state for energy Somendra Tomar.
SP (city) Ayush Vikram Singh on Monday said, “A purported video of the accused (Siddharth) was widely circulated on the Internet on Saturday in which he could be heard issuing certain threats, following which an FIR was lodged at Civil lines police station under IPC sections 143 (unlawful assembly), 153-A (promoting enmity), 505 (public mischief) and 506 (criminal intimidation) and section 7 of the Criminal Amendment Act. Siddharth was produced before a court, which sent him to jail on 14-day judicial remand.”
The alleged remark was made during a stir by the Dalit community outside Meerut district magistrate’s office on Saturday seeking prompt action against BJP minister Tomar and MLC Dharmendra Bhardwaj, along with others. They were protesting against the December 30 incident when members of BJP and some opposition parties came to blows during a board meeting of Meerut Municipal Corporation. Chaos later erupted outside Town Hall, and a purported video showed Tomar and Bhardwaj “assaulting a councillor”.
While addressing a gathering, Siddharth, who had served as a vice-chairman of UP SC/ST commission during SP rule, said, “Though Tomar and Bhardwaj were seen beating councillors outside the Town Hall, the administration failed to take any action against them… If they are not arrested, we shall decide to set him ablaze.”
Meanwhile, SP district president Vipin Choudhary condemned the remark, saying, “Issuing such remarks is not appropriate and the party would never support violence. He is a party worker and doesn’t bear any post (in the party) right now.”
BJP district president Suresh Jain Rituraj said, “Not just BJP, even his party is not supporting the statement. Such comments only sow hatred in society.”
