FIR Against AAP Leader For Saying Rs 830 Crore Spent On ‘Mann Ki Baat’

Ahmedabad: An FIR has been lodged against Isudan Gadhvi, the Gujarat chief of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), for claiming that the Union government has so far spent Rs 830 crore on PM Narendra Modi’s monthly radio broadcast ‘Mann ki Baat.’

Gadhvi was booked after Ahmedabad police took cognisance of a PIB fact check, which asserted that the tweet by Gadhvi was misleading, reported PTI.

Though the tweet was deleted by Gadhvi later, AAP alleged that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was harassing its leaders through such “false” FIRs.

The 100th episode of Modi’s ‘Mann Ki Baat’ was broadcast on Sunday.

Gadhvi’s tweet on Friday read: “One episode of Mann Ki Baat costs Rs 8.3 crore. Which means that the Centre has spent Rs 830 crore on 100 episodes so far. This is too much. BJP workers should register their protest because mostly they listen to this programme.”

The PIB Fact Check Twitter handle on Sunday posted a screenshot of Gadhvi’s tweet and said the AAP leader’s claim that Rs 830 crore was spent on ‘Mann Ki Baat’ was misleading.

“This Claim is Misleading. Rs 8.3 cr is the total figure of ads for Mann ki Baat till said date, not for a single episode. Tweet assumes each episode is supported by ads. Which is false,” the PIB Fact Check tweeted.

The case against Gadhvi has been registered under various IPC sections including 153 (wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot), 500 (defamation), 505(1)(b)and(c) (publishing rumour or report with intent to cause fear or alarm to the public, or inciting people to commit an offence against the state or against public tranquility) and 505(2) (statements creating or promoting enmity, hatred or ill-will between classes).