Mulayam hauled before court for threat in speech

"Sarkaar se takatwar kaun hai, hum aise logon ko kuchal ke rakh denge," he had allegedly said

A petition was filed in a Muzaffarnagar district court against Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Mulayam Singh Yadav for making "dictator-like" remarks during a Nov 1 speech.

The petition seeks action against the Samajwadi Party chief for saying in his speech that people will be trampled upon if they try to vitiate the atmosphere in the state.

"Sarkaar se takatwar kaun hai, hum aise logon ko kuchal ke rakh denge (Who is more powerful than the government, we will trample all such people)."

The petitioner said he was taken aback by Mulayam Yadav's remarks, which he thought were of "Taliban-like behaviour and mindset".

The petition was filed by former Jaansath block head Virendra Singh in the court of the judicial magistrate (II). His lawyer Chandraveer Singh said the case has been listed for Nov 27.

"I have filed this case because I want to challenge Mulayam Singh's dictator-like statement. Law is for everyone and every section of the society has been hurt by the riots in Muzaffarnagar," Virendra Singh said.

He also said that he was pained at the "one-sided rehabilitation packages being given to a community, while people across the society had suffered losses during the September riots".

His lawyer said that during the hearing Nov 27, he would request the court to summon the Samajwadi Party president.

The case has been lodged under sections 153 A (promoting enmity between different groups on ground of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language...), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace), and 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation) of the Indian penal Code.

The petition also alleges that Mulayam Singh's statements post-riots have been inflammatory and that he was trying to pit Hindus against Muslims.

Sixty-three people were killed in communal riots in Muzaffarnagar and adjoining areas in September this year, while more than 43,000 were displaced.