AAP leader Sanjay Singh is scheduled to appear before the Uttar Pradesh Police
The Lucknow Police has told Aam Aadmi Party leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh to appear before it in a sedition case after the parliament session ends. Earlier, the AAP leader was told to appear before Hazratganj police on Sunday at 11 am.
Investigation Officer AK Singh on Saturday issued another letter to him, saying since parliament is in session, he should present himself two days after it ends.
The Uttar Pradesh Police had filed an FIR against the AAP leader under the Indian Penal Code on September 2 for undertaking a "caste" survey. A sedition charge was also included in the notice sent to Mr Singh by the Lucknow police on Thursday, sources said.
On Saturday, AAP's state unit spokesman Vaibhav Maheshwari had said Sanjay Singh would appear before the Hazratganj police. "This correction of mistake by the Lucknow police has safeguarded the dignity of the house. This kind of summon cannot be served to any Member of Parliament or legislature when the house is in session," Sanjay Singh said on Saturday.
"It seems the UP government was not aware of this. So, the notice was served on me on September 17," Sanjay Singh said.
The AAP leader said he had "raised a voice against casteism" through his survey. He claimed Brahmins are being "targeted" and "atrocities" are being committed against Dalits under the UP government led by Yogi Adityanath.
"The sedition case against me was lodged out of frustration as I had raised these issues," the AAP leader claimed.
The BJP had done a similar survey during the 2017 assembly elections against the Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi government, he said. "If the one done by me amounts to sedition, then the one done by the BJP also comes under the category," he said.
The AAP leader said he has requested Rajya Sabha Chairman Venkaiah Naidu to conduct a probe into the cases registered against him in different districts of the state and claimed that he was getting the support of many opposition parties.