JNU row: Complaint filed against Rahul Gandhi in Rajasthan court

JAIPUR: A complaint was today filed in a local court against Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi, party leader Anand Sharma and others for allegedly supporting "anti-national" elements in Jawahar Lal University.

The complainant, Manoj Ojha, has alleged that Gandhi and Sharma supported the people who shouted "anti-national" slogans.

He also named JNU Students' Union President Kanhaiya Kumar, other students Banjyotsna Lahiri, Umar Khalid, Riyazul Haq, Rubina Saife, Aniraban Bhattacharya and Komal Bharat in the complaint and said that action against them was needed. Otherwise they would prove to be a danger to the country, he contended.

The complaint was filed in the court of Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, seeking direction to police to initiate a probe under sections 121 A (waging, or attempting to or abetting waging of war against the Government of India), 124 A (sedition), 153 A (promoting enmity between different groups), 153 B (imputations, assertions prejudicial to national-integration), 506 ( criminal intimidation), 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) and 120 b (criminal conspiracy).

Meanwhile, BJP MLA from Barmer Kailash Choudhary called Gandhi a "traitor" and said he should be hanged and shot for backing "anti-national" students of JNU.

Choudhary, who represents Baytoo constituency, made the remarks at his residence in Barmer which invited sharp reaction from Congress.

A video clip of his remarks was circulated on social media following which Congress members today held protests in front of his house. They blackened the nameplate outside the house and wrote the name of Rahul Gandhi on a wall.

A complaint was also filed in the court of a Metropolitan Magistrate, demanding action against him for creating hatred against Gandhi.

The complaint was filed under sections 115 (abetment of offence punishable with death or imprisonment for life), 116 (abetment of offence punishable with imprisonment), 153 a (promoting enmity between different groups), 153 b (imputations, assertions prejudicial to national-integration), 166 (public servant disobeying law with intent to cause injury to any person) and 120 b (criminal conspiracy).

The court will hear the matter on February 25.

PCC President Sachin Pilot condemned and demanded public apology from the MLA.

"The remarks expose BJP's character. He should be suspended from the party and a case be registered against him," he said in a statement.