An FIR was filed on 20 April against Bihar BJP leader Giriraj Singh, former BJP chief Nitin Gadkari and some other party leaders following a controversial remark by Mr. Singh that the Centre gave subsidy to those who exported beef and taxed those who reared cows. Mr. Singh had also said in his poll speech that those who opposed the party’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi would have to shift base to Pakistan after the outcome of election results.
The FIR was lodged under the Bihar Representation of Improvement of Animal Act, 1952, under the Representation of People’s Act 1951, and for violation of the Model Code of Conduct, reports said citing police sources. On the direction of sub-divisional magistrate-cum-deputy Returning Officer Jay Jyoti Samanta, the FIR was filed against Mr. Singh, Mr. Gadkari, BJP’s Godda candidate Nishikant Dubey and those who were on the stage during the meeting at Mohanpur, Mr. Bansal said.