Those opposing our take on Sedition don't understand the law: Cong

Saying that the BJP was misusing the Sedition law to attack journalists and critics, Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala defended the party's promise of scrapping the colonial-era law and said that the ones opposing their take on the matter do not understand the law.

New Delhi:Hitting out at the BJP, Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala on Thursday said that the ones opposing their take on Sedition have no understanding of the law.

Speaking to the media here on Thursday, Surjewala said, "Sedition law was brought in by the British to silence our freedom fighters. People should understand that some laws lose relevance with time."

"The BJP although, is misusing the law to silence journalists and attack the field of journalism. They are also misusing the law to file FIRs against their critics from time to time," he added.

Saying that even qualified lawyers like Arun Jaitley failed to understand the law, Surjewala said that the colonial-era Sedition law is no longer required as two new laws - The Defence of India Act and The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, were formulated post-independence.

Surjewala's statement comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday slammed the Congress promise in its manifesto to wind up the sedition law, saying the party was encouraging anti-national sentiments and strengthening the hands of secessionists.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had also hit out at the Congress saying it was making "unimplementable and dangerous promises".

Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code deals with sedition against the state and attracts three years to life imprisonment.

During the course of his press conference, Surjewala also accused PM Modi of 'saving' his friends using public money and conspiring to shut down state-owned companies like BSNL.

He also hit out at Rajasthan Governor Kalyan Singh for desecrating the Constitutional post by asking for votes for the BJP.

Read:Will throw infiltrators out ofcountryin our 2nd term: Shah