Case Against AAP Spokesperson For Alleged Communal Remarks In TV Debate

An FIR has been lodged in Noida against Aam Aadmi Party chief spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar on the complaint of BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala, who accused her of making communal remarks during a debate on a TV channel, police said on Friday.

In his complaint to the police, Mr Poonawala alleged that Ms Kakkar called him "Mujahideen", abused his faith and made "extremely communally-loaded" remarks during a TV debate on a private channel on July 25.

"In the past too, she has made such comments on-air and off-air against my faith Islam and against Muslims in general. Such comments only reflect the poisonous and hate-filled mindset of the Aam Aadmi Party towards Muslims," Mr Poonawala alleged in his complaint filed on Thursday, according to the police.

Responding to the allegations, Ms Kakkar wondered if "Mujahideen" or "Shehzad" meant "terrorist" and hit back at Mr Poonawala for referring to a Chief Minister as "Jihadi." "Does 'Shehzad' mean terrorist? Does 'Mujahideen' mean terrorist? Does 'Shehzad Mujahideen' mean terrorist? Is the complainant allowed to refer to a Chief Minister as 'Jihadi' on national media? The previous conduct of the Complainant. Is it okay to refer to a political opponent as 'Shishu'?" Ms Kakkar tweeted in response to a post by Mr Poonawala on Twitter.

"@Shehzad_Ind Long fight, bro. Tough questions you will have to prove," the AAP spokesperson added in the tweet.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Noida) Harish Chander said, "An FIR has been lodged under relevant provisions of the law at the Sector 20 Police Station." "Further investigation in the case is underway," he said.

Ms Kakkar on Friday also alleged that phone calls were being made to her family members in the wake of the FIR.

"By making calls to my family from the internet, they are getting expletives hurled at my family...do you feel like a man now," she tweeted.

Ms Kakkar has been booked under Indian Penal Code sections 153A (promoting enmity between different groups), 153B (imputations prejudicial to national integration), 295A (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings) and 505 (public mischief).

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)