FIR against Sonia over tweet on PM CARES

The Sagar police in Shivamogga district have filed an FIR against Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi over some tweets posted on the official Twitter handle of the party criticising the utilisation of the PM CARES fund and the way Prime Minister Narendra Modi has handled the COVID-19 situation. n the complaint, Praveen K.V., an advocate, has alleged that the tweets from the handle @INCIndia on May 11 on the initiatives of the Modi-led government to tackle the COVID-19 situation were “highly misleading”. Meanwhile, Congress demanded withdrawal of the FIR.

NEW DELHI: The Congress on Thursday condemned the filing of an FIR in Karnataka against party President Sonia Gandhi on some tweets by the party’s Twitter handle over the PM CARES Fund and accused the BJP and Karnataka government of following politics of vendetta.

Congress spokesperson Supriya Srinate said the party leadership in Karnataka has already protested against this and has asked for withdrawal of the FIR. “In a democracy people have a right to seek answers. Where is all the money (contributed to the fund) going. The migrant labourers are still walking on the road. It is a question not just Sonia Gandhi but the country is asking,” she said.

According to the party leaders in Karnataka, the tweets were intended to force the Prime Minister to use the PM CARES fund for the welfare of the people. “Unfortunately, this was misinterpreted by the BJP leadership,” a letter written to the State Chief Minister Yediyurappa mentioned. President of the Karnataka Congress DK Shivakumar also urged Yediyurappa to register an FIR against the police officer who registered the complaint and suspend him from his duties.