FIR against Dhankar for 'Bihari brides' remark

Patna, Jul 8: A JD(U) MLA on Tuesday lodged an

demanding the arrest of

leader O P Dhankar for his controversial 'Bihari bride for Haryana boys' remark.

Manjit Kumar Singh, JD(U) MLA from Baikunthpur in Gopalganj district, lodged the FIR against Dhankar under various sections of the IPC with the Sachivalay Police Station.

Singh registered the FIR under sections 153A (promoting enmity between groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language etc and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony), 153B (imputations, assertions prejudicial to national integration), and 294 (obscene acts and songs).

Dhankhar, who is BJP Kisan Morcha (farmers' cell) President, had reportedly made a controversial remark while addressing a meeting of party workers in Haryana that if his party was voted to power in state polls, it would get girls from Bihar to ensure men in Haryana get married.

Other sections of IPC under which the case has been lodged include 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 366 (kidnapping, abducting or inducing woman to compel her marriage), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace), 505 (statements conducting to public mischief) and 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation).

Singh lodged the FIR immediately after the assembly was adjourned till 2 pm due to ruckus created by JD(U), RJD, and Congress on this issue and by BJP on a different issue of demanding CBI inquiry into purchase of alleged spurious medicines for hospitals which resulted in death of a person in Bhagalpur recently.

The FIR, a copy of which was provided to mediapersons, bears signature of a large number of JD(U) MLAs including Izhar Ahmad, Poonam Yadav, Arun Manjhi, Dawood Ali, and Jyoti Devi. Dhankar's controversial remarks have elicited sharp protests here.

Bihar State Women Commission (SWC) took suo moto cognisance of reports published in newspapers about the remark and slapped a notice on him yesterday asking him to appear before it in person by August 13.

PTI