Edition case against ex-up governor ver remarks against state government

Mer governor Aziz reshi says he has n misquoted to itically harm him

Former Uttar Pragovernor Aziz Qureshi has booked for sedition over lleged derogatory remarks nst the state government, olice said on Monday. The was lodged following a plaint by local Bharatiya ta Party (BJP) leader Akash ar Saxena at the Civil Lines e station in Rampur dison Sunday. ter being booked for sediqureshi said his statement been misquoted to harm politically.

The former governor visited the residence of senior Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Azam Khan on Saturday evening. Qureshi met Azam’s wife Tazeen Fatima, who is also the Rampur MLA. Azam Khan is currently in jail in several cases lodged against him after 2017 when the BJP came to power in UP.

In his complaint, Saxena alleged that after visiting Khan’s house and meeting his wife, Qureshi made derogatory statements against the state government.

Saxena alleged that Qureshi said, “The fight between Azam Khan and the state government is like the fight between man and shaitaan (devil).”

Saxena also alleged that Qureshi had termed the government a “blood -sucking demon”.

“The statement can create

Qureshi, 81, a senior Congress leader, had served as the governor of Mizoram from 2014 to 2015. He also had charge of Uttar Pradesh for some time in June 2014.

On his part, the former governor said to the news agency ANI, “It is my right to oppose the policies of the government and I will fight for it till my last breath in a democratic way. My statement is being completely distorted to harm me politically and to mislead the public. I had said that there have not been as many atrocities in earlier days like today. I have not made any remarks against anyone.”

“I did not make a statement against the government. I consider the government as my government. I consider the Prime Minister as the Prime Minister of the whole country. I consider the home minister, defence minister of the entire country. I consider the chief minister as the leader of the whole state. I have never lacked in his respect nor will do. We have a democratic right to oppose them, their policies and it is our democratic right,” Qureshi said.

Clarifying the use of the word “shaitan” during his meeting with Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan’s wife, he said the word is used for a child too who bullies other kids.

The former governor further raised questions against the charges of sedition against him, “Show me one word where I have talked about communalism or spreading communal hatred. A man who needs wheelchair for his support, will he spread hatred?”

The statement can create tension between two communities and create unrest in the society