3 held for ‘goli’ slogan during Amit Shah’s rally; BJP to defend them in court

Three people were detained this morning for raising incendiary “shoot the traitors” slogan during home minister Amit Shah’s rally in Kolkata on Sunday. The BJP has decided to extend all legal help to the accused.

The men shouted the slogan while they were passing the Maidan Market in Esplanade en route to the rally venue Shahid Minar ground.

The police on Sunday had registered a suo motu case under sections 153A (Promoting enmity between different groups), 505 (punishment for criminal intimidation) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the Indian Penal Code.

“They will be produced before a city court in the afternoon,” said a senior officer of Kolkata Police’ south division, requesting anonymity.

BJP state president Dilip Ghosh found nothing objectionable in mouthing such slogans. He, however, was not happy with the use of a certain word in the slogan.

“There is no wrong in demanding that the traitors of the country be shot. I myself had demanded that anti-national elements should be shot dead. However, while making such a demand, one needs to maintain decency and avoid the use of slang,” Ghosh said.

There has been a controversy over raising of such slogans in BJP rallies during Delhi polls and demonstrations in favour of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA).

The slogan shouting BJP supporters came close to Congress and Left Front members who chanted “Go Back Amit Shah” on the other flank of the Jawaharlal Nehru Road, but a showdown was averted as a large number of police personnel posted nearby intervened and took control of the situation.