FIR against Sidhu in MP

A case has been registered against BJP MP and former cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu for allegedly hurting religious feelings of the people through his speech at Kareli here on November 11, the police said today.

8220;Sidhu had on November 11, while delivering a poll speech at Kareli, allegedly told the gathering that voting for the BJS amounts to a sin comparable to eating beef,8221; A Sai Manohar, Superintendent of Police Narsinghpur, said. The BJP MP, in an apparent bid to recall former Union minister Prahlad Patel and his MLA brother and BJS candidate Jalam Singh Patel to their parent party BJP, had said that if they come back then it would be like returning to their mother8217;s lap, Manohar added.

After analysing Sidhu8217;s speech and on the complaint of BJS candidate, the FIR was registered under Section 171 of the IPC, the SP said. A copy of the complaint, along with the FIR, was submitted to the court today for further directions, he added.

However, Sidhu today gave a clarification about the remark at a press conference called at the party office in Bhopal. 8220;I only said that those who earlier used to say that voting for the Congress was like eating beef are going towards that party Congress,8221; Sidhu said. He also claimed ignorance about registration of the FIR against him.