Oppn slams BJP over FIR against celebrities, says Modi govt is intolerant

The Opposition has denounced the Narendra Modi government, saying people were being targeted if they say something against it. The FIR against the prominent personalities is a proof, it said and added that the union government has become more intolerant during its second term.

New Delhi: Accusing the Narendra Modi government of being "intolerant and authoritarian", Congress on Friday said it does not want to hear anything against it.

Talking about an FIR lodged in Bihar's Muzaffarpur on Thursday against nearly 50 celebrities, including Ramachandra Guha, Mani Ratnam and Aparna Sen, who had written an open letter to Modi raising concern over the growing incidents of mob lynching, Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari said that if anyone writes a letter to the Prime Minister, an FIR is registered against him.

"A person in a news channel lost his job because he did not show the Prime Minister's speech live," he said while addressing a press conference.

The former Union Minister further said that the government was trying to change even the history of the country.

"The FIR against the people who wrote the letter to the Prime Minister sends a message that speaking against Prime Minister is a crime," Tewari said, adding that people are being threatened.

Criticising the government, CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury said, "anyone who raises a voice against the government is declared anti-national. This is not good for democracy. The constitution has given everyone the right to speak but this government doesn't want anyone to speak against it."

Talking to ETV Bharat over the incident, criminal lawyer, Uday Prakash said that investigation has to be proceeded further to prove the crime. He said that if the FIR has been registered as unknown then they will not be considered as accused and matter of cognizance will be taken further.

Talking about the measures which the celebrities can take now, Prakash said that if no allegations are against them and FIR does not disclose any cognizable offence, then they must approach the High court for quashing the FIR.