16 November,2011 07:55 AM IST | | Akela
While Gandhi's aggressive but sour remarks about the impoverished state of Uttar Pradesh has sparked public outrage across the nation, certain others have taken the slur personally, and are pulling out all the stops to bring him to book for his uncharitable remarks.
Bandra-based businessman Farooq Ghosi has filed a defamation case against Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi, for having passed offensive remarks against North Indians. His advocate Manoj Singh, who has agreed to fight the case on his behalf, has voluntarily agreed to fight the case pro bono.
Who are you calling a beggar? Ice factory businessman Farooq
Ghosi mentioned in his petition that North Indian migrants who pursued
different professions in Mumbai have to work hard for their sustenance,
and come up in their respective fields by dedication and honesty,
and not by begging. Pics/Satyajit Desai
While launching the party's election campaign in the state on Monday, Rahul Gandhi had asked people from Uttar Pradesh to stop migrating and begging in Maharashtra. "Aap log kab tak Maharashtra mein bheekh mangoge?" Gandhi exhorted, at Congress's election launching campaign at Phoolpur, Uttar Pradesh on Monday.
The remark caused a furore among political circles, with the Congress scion's detractors crying themselves hoarse over the political incorrectness of the remark.
Following Rahul's statement, Ghosi approached the Bandra police station to file a complaint against Gandhi on Monday. He claims that he sat all night outside the police station, but cops refused to register his complaint. They finally relented on Tuesday morning, reluctantly attesting the copy of the complaint.
"After waiting all night, the Bandra police asked me to submit my complaint in writing. I have done that," said Ghosi.
An ice factory businessman, Ghosi is a resident of Bandra (East). After cops attested the complaint, he filed a case against Gandhi at Bandra court no 32, under Section 500 (for defamation) and Section 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace). The court has accepted the application in the court.
"Ghosi has pleaded in the petition that North Indian migrants who pursued different professions in Mumbaiu00a0-- such as law, politics and mediau00a0-- put in a lot of hard work for their sustenance. They come up in their respective fields by sheer dint of dedication and honesty, and not by begging," said Singh.
