Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati and three of her key lieutenants were on Friday booked by police after expelled BJP leader Dayashankar Singh’s family complained that BSP workers had used highly derogatory language against them during a protest.
An FIR was lodged at the Hazratganj police station under various Sections of the Indian Penal Code — I20B, 504, 509, 506 and 153A after a complaint by Mr. Singh’s mother Treta.
Ms. Mayawati and three other BSP leaders, including key aide Nasimuddin Siddiqui, who led the protest, were accused of criminal conspiracy, intimidation, promoting enmity and outraging the modesty of a woman.
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Swati Singh, the wife of the expelled BJP leader, who was booked for derogatory references to the BSP supremo, alleged BSP workers had used sexist remarks targeting her and her minor daughter (12), who is in “trauma” due to the “mental harassment.” She also alleged she had received threats on phone.
Outraged by the derogatory remarks against their party supremo, BSP workers and supporters staged a massive protest in Lucknow on Thursday demanding the arrest of Mr. Singh, who was booked under the stringent SC/ST Act.
“The kind of language used in the dharna was filthy. My daughter is in trauma. She is unable to study for her tests and needs to take pills to fall asleep. If Mayawati can get hurt by such things, can’t we too?” Ms. Swati Singh asked.
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She also questioned Ms. Mayawati for making a reference to her during a debate in Parliament on the issue. “Did anybody ask her why did you say such a thing? The whole country stood up for Mayawatiji. I am also a woman,” Ms. Singh said.