Prakash Ambedkar booked for threatening to “jail Election Commission”
While addressing an election rally, Ambedkar said he would jail the EC for two days for not letting political parties speak about the Pulwama terror attack if he was voted to power
A case was registered against Prakash Ambedkar, president of Bharip Bahujan Mahasangh and grandson of Babasaheb Ambedkar, on Friday for making objectionable remarks against the Election Commission (EC).
While addressing an election rally at Digras in Maharashtra’s Yavatmal district on Thursday, Ambedkar said if he was voted to power, he would jail the EC for two days for not letting political parties speak about the Pulwama terror attack.
“We lost 40 soldiers (in Pulwama), but we are still sitting quiet. We have been asked not to speak on the Pulwama attack. How can the EC gag us? Our Constitution has given us the right to speak. I am not the BJP. If voted to power, we will jail the EC for two days,” Ambedkar told the rally.
Following the remark, the Yavatmal district collector lodged a complaint against Ambedkar at the Digras police station, which booked him under IPC sections 503 (criminal intimidation), 505 (statements conducing to public mischief) and 189 (threat of injury to public servant).
According to reports, the State Election Commission has also sought a report from the local poll officials on Ambedkar’s speech.
When asked about his remarks, Ambedkar said he had made a “general” statement. “I said it in a general sense, but my comment on the EC was singled out,” Ambedkar was quoted as saying.
Ambedkar has formed the “Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi”, an alliance with the Asaduddin Owaisi-led All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, in which he himself is contesting from Solapur and Akola in Maharashtra.
Earlier on Wednesday, Ambedkar had also claimed that he would remonetise notes scrapped by Narendra Modi-led government if he was voted to power.
