New Delhi: Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke on Friday questioned the FIR registered against a woman for allegedly using abusive language against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, asking whether there were "two laws" in the country and why similar action had not been taken against BJP leaders and IT cell members accused of using objectionable language.
In a video shared by CJP on X, Dipke said he had learnt that a case had been registered against a woman for allegedly using abusive language and questioned why similar action had not been taken in other cases.
"If you are registering cases for abusing, when will cases be registered against those BJP IT cell people who have been using abusive language for women online for years?" Dipke asked.
Will FIRs also be filed against the IT cell members who have abused women in the worst possible manner for all these years? pic.twitter.com/xaz26nmt0C
He alleged that several social media users had repeatedly used objectionable language against women while openly identifying themselves with the BJP.
"They have been using all kinds of words, not respecting women in any way. And they proudly wrote in their bio, 'Followed by PM Modi'. Such people have abused girls. When will a case be filed against them?" he added.
Dipke also referred to remarks made by BJP leaders in the past, questioning why similar action had not been taken against them.
"It is not just the BJP's IT cell. Their Member of Parliament, Ramesh Bidhuri, what words did he use for a fellow Member of Parliament? Everyone remembers that," he said.
He also referred to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, alleging that a video had surfaced in which he used abusive language towards a cameraperson.
"The chief minister of Uttar Pradesh… there was even a video in which he abused a cameraperson. So, what is going on? Are there two laws in this country? There is one law for young people and another law for the BJP and its leaders," he said.
Claiming that using abusive language was not a criminal offence, Dipke said criminal cases should not be filed solely on that basis.
"Abusing is not a crime. It is a bad thing, and the person should be told not to use such language. But why is a case being filed? If cases are to be filed for abusive language, the highest number of cases will be against the BJP's IT cell because they are the ones who have abused women the most. It will also be against BJP leaders who have used objectionable language for years, even inside Parliament," he said.
In a post on X accompanying the video, CJP said, "Will an FIR be filed against all those IT Cell members who have been abusing women for the last several years?"
The remarks came a day after a Zero FIR was registered at the Expressway police station in Noida against Ruchika Singh for allegedly using abusive and objectionable language against Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a protest at Jantar Mantar on 23 July.
The FIR was registered following a complaint by Ghaziabad resident Smriti Singh under Sections 352 (intentional insult with intent to provoke a breach of the peace), 353(1) (statements conducing to public mischief) and 356(1) (defamation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Police said the Zero FIR would be transferred to New Delhi for further investigation.