No remorse: Assam, UP oppose Pawan Khera plea in Supreme Court to club FIRs

Khera's remarks against PM sparked a massive outcry with the BJP accusing the Congress of having a sense of entitlement and disdain for a self-made man like PM Modi.

The Assam and Uttar Pradesh governments have opposed the plea by Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera seeking to club the three first information reports (FIRs) registered against in a case pertaining to alleged defamatory remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Khera's statement against PM Modi is part of a wider conspiracy to destabilise and defame India," Assam claimed in its affidavit.

"He tried to incite violence and disturb peace", said the Assam government, adding Khera is yet to tender an apology for his statements.

The Uttar Pradesh government has also sought dismissal of Pawan Khera's plea, calling it a move to stall the investigation and attempts to leapfrog processes of criminal law.

Meanwhile, the top court extended till March 17 the interim bail granted to Pawan Khera in the case.

A three-judge bench of Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices P S Narasimha and J B Pardiwala adjourned the hearing to March 17 as it had run out of time.

The bench also pointed out that the replies of Uttar Pradesh and Assam were not on record and it will hear the plea after the Holi vacation.

It made clear that the interim bail granted to Khera will be extended till March 17 when it will hear the matter.

Earlier, on February 27, the court had extended the protection to the Congress spokesperson till Friday.

Khera was arrested at the Delhi airport after being deplaned from a flight to Raipur over his alleged remarks against Modi made at a press conference on February 17 in Mumbai.

He was later granted bail by a magisterial court here.

The Congress leader was in the headlines for apparently fumbling on the prime minister's father's name during a press conference, was released on interim bail till February 28 by a Delhi court later in the evening on the directions of the Supreme Court.

Khera had referred to the prime minister as "Narendra Gautamdas Modi" while criticising the government over the row involving the business conglomerate headed by Gautam Adani. Modi's full name is Narendra Damodardas Modi, with the middle name Damodardas standing for his father's name, a common practice in many parts of the country.

The apparent flub led to strong condemnation from the BJP with its leaders accusing Khera of making fun of the prime minister and his late father.