MP Congress leader Raja Pateria arrested over 'kill Modi' remark
What's the story
The Madhya Pradesh Police arrested Congress leader and former state cabinet minister, Raja Pateria, from Damoh district early on Tuesday after an FIR was registered over his alleged remarks calling for the death of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Madhya Pradesh CM and BJP leader Shivraj Singh Chouhan attacked the Congress, saying Pateria's comments have revealed the real face of the party's Bharat Jodo Yatra.
Context
Why does this story matter?
Pateria faced backlash after a purported video showed him addressing a gathering, saying, "If you want to save the Constitution, be ready to kill Modi. By killing, I mean defeat."
A major controversy erupted, with BJP leaders pulling up the grand old party and calling for strict action against Pateria.
He tried to mitigate the damage saying his remarks were taken out of context.
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BJP cornered Congress over constant verbal attacks on Modi
Congress leader & former minister Raja Pateria incites people to kill PM Modi - earlier too Cong leaders spoke about death of PM Modi (Sheikh Hussain)
— Shehzad Jai Hind (@Shehzad_Ind) December 12, 2022
But now a death threat!
After “Aukat dikha denge” “Raavan” this is Rahul Gandhi’s Pyaar ki Rajniti? Will they act on him? No! pic.twitter.com/wH6LSi63g2
FIR
Congress distanced itself from Pateria's remark
Meanwhile, Congress distanced itself from Pateria's remark and condemned it.
The aforementioned clip is reportedly from a neighborhood meeting at Panna district's Pawai.
The FIR against Pateria was registered in Panna district on Monday on the instructions of MP Home Minister Narottam Mishra, who said this wasn't the Congress of Mahatma Gandhi. He said this was Italy's Congress with the mentality of Mussolini.
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Pateria was arrested at dawn in Hatta, Damoh
Damoh, Madhya Pradesh | Congress leader and former minister Raja Pateria detained by Panna Police from his residence, in connection with his alleged ‘kill Modi’ remarks. FIR was registered against him in Pawai of Panna yesterday. pic.twitter.com/Q62OUvGuM1
— ANI (@ANI) December 13, 2022
Details
Meant to say 'defeat Modi politically': Pateria
Pateria on Monday clarified his comments were misrepresented and that he meant that PM Modi should be defeated in elections to save the Constitution and the rights of the oppressed.
He said defeating Modi would ease inflation and unemployment.
Pateria—a former cabinet minister in the Digvijaya Singh government from 1998-2003—was arrested from his residence in Hatta of Damoh district at 5:30 am on Tuesday.
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'Won't be tolerated': CM Chouhan
भारत जोड़ो यात्रा का ढोंग करने वालों की असलियत सामने आ रहे हैं। माननीय प्रधानमंत्री श्री @narendramodi जी जनता के दिल में बसते हैं। सम्पूर्ण देश के श्रद्धा व आस्था के केंद्र हैं। मैदान में कांग्रेस के लोग उनसे मुकाबला नहीं कर पाते, इसलिए उनकी हत्या की बात कर रहे हैं। pic.twitter.com/Mxq5u4JIQ8
— Shivraj Singh Chouhan (@ChouhanShivraj) December 12, 2022