Congress leader appears before court in ‘hate speech’ case

CHANDIGARH - The Congress aprty’s national minority cell chief Imran Kidwai Tuesday appeared before a local court here in a case of a “hate speech” he allegedly gave during an election rally here.

Kidwai submitted a bail bond of Rs.20,000 in the court. The next date of hearing is slated for Jan 8 next year.

The Congress leader had allegedly asked Muslim voters not to vote for anyone other than his party in a rally here March 15.

Kidwai reportedly said if he was a Muslim cleric who could issue a fatwa (religious edict), then he would ask all Muslim voters not to vote for political parties other than the Congress and Muslims were committing the biggest sin if they support the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The Election Commission had asked the returning officer of Chandigarh to register a case against Kidwai following a complaint by the BJP.

After appearing before the court, Kidwai told reporters, “I do not think that I had said anything wrong while addressing the rally. I am ready to explain my point before anyone.”