Giriraj Singh surrenders in court in MCC violation case, gets bail

The Union Minister and BJP candidate for Begusarai Lok Sabha constituency had reportedly said while his ancestors didn’t need a grave, Muslims want “three handspans of space”.

BJP candidate Giriraj Singh after casting his vote in Begusarai, Bihar on April 29, 2019.

Union minister Giriraj Singh on Tuesday surrendered before a local court in a model code of conduct violation case for making controversial remarks against the Muslim community at an election rally in the state.

The firebrand BJP leader surrendered before the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate Thakur Aman Kumar here.

The CJM granted bail to Mr. Singh in the case lodged under relevant sections of the Representation of People’s Act and the Indian Penal Code.

“Those who cannot say ‘Vande Mataram’ or cannot respect the motherland, the nation will never forgive them. My ancestors died at the Simaria Ghat and did not need a grave but you need three handspans of space,” he had said in Hindi for making the remarks at a poll meeting in Begusarai on April 24.

Besides BJP president Amit Shah, the election meeting was attended by a number of other party leaders, including Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi.

The court also asked Mr. Singh to furnish two bail bonds of ₹5,000 each.

The Election Commission had also issued a show-cause notice to the minister for his remarks.

The EC said, prima facie, Mr. Singh has violated provisions of the model code and directions of the Supreme Court, which had observed that religion cannot be used while making statements during campaigning.

The veteran BJP leader is locked in a three-cornered contest with CPI candidate Kanhaiya Kumar and RJD’s Tanveer Hasan in the Begusarai Lok Sabha constituency, where voting took place on April 29 in the fourth phase.