Mayawati’s nephew booked for poll code breach for ‘terrorist’ barb

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LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh Police Sunday booked BSP chief

Mayawati

’s

nephew

Akash Anand on hate-speech charges after he allegedly branded the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Centre “a govt of terrorists” at a rally in Sitapur. Anand (28) was addressing the rally for BSP Sitapur Lok Sabha candidate Mahendra Yadav. The two are among 35 other unidentified people booked.

Sitapur votes on May 13.
This is the first time Anand has campaigned in the Uttar Pradesh elections. Mayawati had last year designated the London-educated Anand as her political heir.
The FIR lodged by Kotwali station house officer Anup Kumar Shukla alleges that Anand also urged those at the event “to hit representatives of other parties seeking votes with shoes”.
Anand’s speech not only disrupted peace but also violated the model code of conduct, the FIR says. The others named in the case allegedly applauded Anand’s remarks.

The FIR includes Indian Penal Code sections 153b (promoting disharmony) and 502(2) (statements promoting hatred). Sitapur SP Chakresh Mishra said the rally footage was being scanned.
This is the first time Akash Anand has campaigned in the Uttar Pradesh elections. Mayawati had last year designated him as her political heir.