Ranchi, Apr 20 (PTI) : An FIR was filed against Bihar BJP leader Giriraj Singh by Jharkand police today over his inflammatory remark that those opposing Narendra Modi should go to Pakistan for which he was also pulled up by the party leadership.
Giriraj, who is a Lok Sabha candidate from Nawada, however, remained unfazed and stood by his controversial comment that has been condemned by rival parties as violation of Model Code of Conduct.
Deoghar SDM Jay Jyoti Samanta, who is also the deputy Returning Officer, said an FIR has been registered against Giriraj under several IPC sections and the Representation of People's Act, 1951.
Deoghar Superintendent of Police Rakesh Bansal said the FIR was filed at the Mohanpur police station on the directions of Samanta.
Former BJP President Nitin Gadkari and its Godda Lok Sabha candidate Nishikant Dubey were also present on the stage during the poll rally at Mohanpur yesterday when Giriraj made the controversial comments.
Quoting the CD of Giriraj’s speech, Samanta mentioned that he had said that those who oppose the BJP Prime Ministerial candidate have a place in Pakistan and not in India, which promotes enmity.
The Bihar Preservation And Improvement of Animals Act was also invoked in the FIR for Giriraj's remark that the Centre gave subsidy to those who exported beef and taxed those who reared cows.
Congress and JD(U) also complained to Election Commission and demanded criminal action against him.
Distancing itself from Singh's remark, BJP sought to undo the damage with president Rajnath Singh saying the party believes in the politics of "justice and humanity" and taking everybody along.
Party sources said Giriraj has been conveyed the party's displeasure over his statement and asked to refrain from stoking any further row.
The comment had left BJP red-faced besides inviting sharp criticism from rival parties who said his comments were directed at Muslims.
In an apparent disapproval of the former Bihar minister's comments, Rajnath said, "BJP believes in the politics of justice and humanity and taking everybody along".
Senior Bihar BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi termed the statement "irresponsible" and said the party does not approve of it. "BJP doesn't approve of irresponsible statement given by Giriraj Singh," he tweeted.
"I stand by my statement that those trying their best to stop Modi from coming to power have no place in India and should go to Pakistan whose interests these Modi-baiters have sought to espouse by opposing him in the polls," Giriraj told PTI in Patna.