Imran Masood's arrest and judicial remand embarrasses Congress

It was a day of huge embarrassment for the Congress party as Congress Vice President  Rahul Gandhi had to explain at his election rally at Saharanpur why he disapproved of the conduct of local Congress candidate Imran Masood following his arrest for making a “hate speech”. Masood was arrested late on Friday night for publicly threatening to “chop into pieces” BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi. While the Congress has condemned Ali’s comments, the BJP has filed an official complaint with the Election Commission. Congress is also alleging that the comments were made when Masood was a part of the Samajwadi Party then, he joined Congress only on March 8 this year. 

 

Samajwadi party lost no time in arresting Masood as a way to get back at him in connection with a statement he made six months ago. but as Saharanpur goes to the polls on April 10 and the last date for filing and withdrawal of nominations having lapsed, the Congress will face embarrassment with its candidate in jail even when the constituency goes to polls. Masood has been remanded to 14 days judicial custody.   

 

The controversy is loss of face for the Congress especially as Rahul Gandhi has been urging leaders to refrain from using objectionable language against their political opponents whatever be the provocation. This is what he repeated at today's meeting as well. For a party that is trying its best to retain the 22 seats that it won in 2009 last, which looks difficult in these polls; this controversy comes as a huge blow to its prospects. 

 

At today's public meeting, which was addressed by Gandhi  Masood's wife Shaima and his children Shaima said her husband had been "trapped" on the basis of "false allegations".

 

Describing herself as their daughter and daughter in-law, Shaima said she came there with her children to seek people's"blessings".

 

In the video that went viral Masood is shown addressing a group of locals and threatening to chop Modi into pieces. Masood also warns that Uttar Pradesh is not Gujarat, claiming that there is only 4 per cent Muslim population in Gujarat while the Muslim population in UP is 22%.

 

UP Congress chief Nirmal Khatri said, "The CD that has been shown dates back to December 2013 when Imran Masood was part of SP. He was inducted into the Congress only on 8 March 2014. Congress is completely against such comments, but this particular incident cannot be associated with the party."

 

Senior leader Digvijay Singh in Delhi speaking to reporters, even while “strongly condemning” Masood’s hate speech said that hate speeches were never acceptable in the Congress whether it be of “the kind made by Varun Gandhi or by Akbar Owaisi.” 

Imran Masood himself taking to television reporters before he was arrested, had alleged that in the local parlance of western Uttar Pradesh, the alleged phrase meant to teach your opponent a lesson. Masood also apologized for his “unparliamentary language” but rejected that he had done anything wrong.  

 

Former UP Congress chief Rita Bahuguna Joshi defended the party stating that it was it’s a six month old video clip, which was long before the Model Code of Conduct came into effect.

 

Party leaders in Uttar Pradesh are claiming that it is a “well thought out conspiracy” timed perfectly to embarrass the Congress exactly on the day that Rahul Gandhi was to address a rally there. Local leaders are also worried about the possible polarization of votes that may occur due to this "hate speech."