BJP MLA from the Bhawnathpur Assembly seat in Jharkhand, Bhanu Pratap Shahi, has been charged under the SC/ST Act following his alleged remarks against Chief Minister Hemant Soren.
An FIR was lodged at Ramna Police Station in Garhwa on Tuesday, alleging that Shahi made offensive comments during a party workers' conference in Ranchi.
The MLA reportedly said that Chief Minister Hemant Soren, being a tribal, could be forcibly removed from office by grabbing him by the collar.
The petitioner claimed that Shahi's statement was meant to demean the tribal Chief Minister of Jharkhand. The remarks were made on July 22 in Ranchi and were broadcast widely through various media channels and social media platforms.
The FIR, filed by one Rajendra Oraon, accused Shahi of intentionally insulting the tribal community and inciting BJP workers. The statement has reportedly sparked anger within the tribal community in Jharkhand and beyond, raising concerns about potential caste conflicts and threats to the nation's unity.
The petitioner urged legal action against Shahi under the Indian Penal Code and the Information Technology Act. Consequently, an FIR was filed under sections 152 BNS, 3 (1) (r) of the SC/ST Act, and 67 of the IT Act against the Garhwa MLA at Ramna Police Station.
The petitioner highlighted that Chief Minister Hemant Soren, who also serves as the working president of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, is a leading figure in the tribal (Scheduled Tribe) community.
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