LUCKNOW: Taking a strong view of the controversial CD produced by the Uttar Pradesh unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Election Commission on Saturday lodged an FIR against national president of the party Rajnath Singh and Leader of Opposition in the State Assembly Lalji Tandon. The FIR also contains the names of those members of the BJP who were party to the making and distribution of the disc.

The CD, produced by the Information Technology Cell of the State unit of the saffron party, was edited by Manoj Mishra and Rishi Mohan with assistance from Alpana Talwar and Shiv Bodhan Mishra. It was released by Mr. Tandon on Tuesday last. Following the furore over it, the BJP sacked Dr. Manoj Mishra as the party spokesman the next day. He continues in the I.T. Cell.

RPI Act

The FIR was lodged at the Hazratganj police station here by the Chief Electoral Officer of U.P., Anuj Kumar Bishnoi, at the directives of the poll panel under Sections 153 (A), 153 (B) and 505 of the Indian Penal Code and Sections 123 and 125 of the Representation of the People Act.

Mr. Bishnoi told reporters that the BJP leaders had been charged with spreading and aggravating differences between communities liable to cause tension and appealing for votes on the basis of religion. To a query that can the Leader of Opposition in the Vidhan Sabha, who is the BJP candidate from Lucknow West Assembly constituency, be debarred from contesting the elections, the Chief Electoral Officer said the legal process would follow.

Second FIR

This is the second FIR to be lodged by the Commission in connection with the release of the CD. On Thursday, the Lucknow district administration lodged an FIR against unnamed office-bearers of the BJP at the Hazratganj police station. The case lodged under Sections 295 (A), 298, 153 (A), 153 (B) and 505 of IPC and Section 125 of the RP Act charged the unnamed BJP office-bearers for distributing the CD meant for campaigning purposes. The CD contained references to the Babri mosque and the Godhra incident.

Mr. Bishnoi said though the first FIR was against unnamed persons, there is clarity in the second FIR. On the name of the BJP president figuring in the FIR when the CD was produced by the State unit, the CEO said all the aspects must have been taken into consideration by the Commission.

Stern stand

Following the stern stand taken by the Commission, State unit president of the BJP Kesari Nath Tripathi said the CD would not be distributed in the State.

The Union Science and Technology Minister and Chairman of AICC Media Management Committee, Kapil Sibal, demanded that the BJP office-bearers associated with the CD in any form be debarred from contesting the elections.

Addressing the press, Mr. Sibal said their election symbols should be withdrawn as there was no place for politics of disharmony in Indian democracy. He said the CD had exposed the real face of the BJP, which was only concerned with dividing society.

Mr. Sibal said Section 153 (A) of IPC entailed a three-year imprisonment, or with fine or both.

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