Kanpur traders liken Narendra Modi to North Korea's Kim Jong-un: Here's why

Kanpur traders will not celebrate Diwali this year. The reason: on Thursday, Uttar Pradesh police registered a criminal case against twenty-two traders for putting up hoardings and posters comparing Prime Minister Narendra Modi with North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un. They also arrested Praveen Kumar, a resident of Sharda Nagar for installing these hoardings. 

According to Hindustan Times, sub-inspector Rajesh Awasthi filed the FIR under section 32 (3) of UP Special Powers Act, section 153A and section 505 of IPC. Superintendent of police (south) Ashok Verma confirmed Kumar’s arrest and said others would be nabbed soon.

What was offensive about the hoardings?

The hoardings had a photograph of Kim Jong-un on one side declaring he will rest only after he has destroyed the world and that of Modi on other the side saying, “I will bring an end to businesses”.

According to HT, the posters came in limelight on Wednesday, before the state executive of the BJP was to hold a meeting.

Traders' woes

In the hoardings, the traders asked PM Modi to resolve the issue of small coins.

Banks have refused to take deposits in coins, stating the lack of chests to keep them, claim traders. 

According to the traders, many in the wholesale grocery business are left with coins worth about Rs 10 to 15 lakh each, while retailers, on an average, have a stock of coins worth Rs 6-7 lakh each.

After banks'refusal, the traders were compelled to pay their employees in coins. Traders fear that if the situation continues they will have to shut their businesses.

“We believe this is being done to finish us and our small-time businesses. We demand that the government should give us an alternative about what to do with the coins,” said one of the traders.