Mann ki Baat: A case has been registered against Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Gujarat State President Isudan Gadhvi in Amdavad Crime Branch for allegedly claiming that the Centre has spent Rs 830 crore of the taxpayers' money on 100 episodes of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Mann Ki Baat' radio programme, an official said on Monday.
The 100th episode of PM Modi's 'Mann Ki Baat' radio address was broadcast on Sunday.
‘One episode of Mann Ki Baat costs Rs 8.3 crore’
Gadhvi had made this claim in a tweet. "One episode of Mann Ki Baat costs Rs 8.3 crore! Which means that the Centre has spent Rs 830 crore on 100 episodes so far. This is too much. BJP workers should register their protest because mostly they listen to this programme,” Gadhvi in a tweet claimed on April 28.
However, the tweet has been deleted by Gadhvi. But the Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP had alleged that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is harassing its leaders through such "false" FIRs.
FIR against AAP leader
The official said that the case against the AAP leader was registered on Saturday after it was found that Gadhvi made the claim without any relevant data to support it. Taking cognisance of the tweet, the Ahmedabad Cyber Crime Branch registered an FIR against Gadhvi on April 29 under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Information Technology Act, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Cyber Crime, JM Yadav said at a press conference.
He said that the case against Gadhvi was registered under various IPC sections including 153 (wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot), 500 (defamation), 505(1)(b)and(c) (publishing rumour or report with intent to cause fear or alarm to the public, or inciting people to commit an offence against the state or against public tranquility) and 505(2) (statements creating or promoting enmity, hatred or ill-will between classes).
"Police are the complainant on behalf of the government. The FIR was registered on April 29 at the Cyber Crime Branch after it was found that Gadhvi had tweeted against 'Mann Ki Baat' without any reliable data to back his claim. We will gather evidence and then proceed further.
He has not been arrested yet," Yadav said.
Gadhvi's tweet “misleading”
On Sunday, the PIB Fact Check Twitter handle tagged a screenshot of Gadhvi's tweet and said the AAP leader's claim that Rs 830 crore was spent on 'Mann Ki Baat' was "misleading". "This Claim is Misleading. Rs 8.3 cr is the total figure of ads for Mann ki Baat till said date, not for a single episode. Tweet assumes each episode is supported by ads. Which is false," the PIB Fact Check tweeted.
AAP's national joint secretary and former Gujarat party chief Gopal Italia claimed the case against Gadhvi was registered on false charges. "Gadhvi has been booked over a tweet. This shows how the BJP fears AAP. The BJP and its government have repeatedly lodged false FIRs against us to stop and break us. But, we will continue to fight," said Italia.
About Mann ki Baat
PM Modi's radio monthly programme completed its 100th episode today which was aired at 11:00 am live across the country. The programme, which started on October 3, 2014, has become a key pillar of the government's citizen-outreach programme addressing multiple social groups such as women, youth, and farmers and has spurred community action.
Apart from 22 Indian languages and 29 dialects, Mann Ki Baat is broadcast in 11 foreign languages including French, Chinese, Indonesian, Tibetan, Burmese, Baluchi, Arabic, Pashtu, Persian, Dari and Swahili. Mann Ki Baat is being broadcast by more than 500 broadcast centres of All India Radio.
A study was conducted regarding the impact of Mann Ki Baat on the lives of the people. The study showed that over 100 crore people have connected to Mann Ki Baat at least once, it speaks directly to people, celebrates grassroots-level changemakers and achievements of people and has influenced people towards positive actions. The programme was telecast live by Doordarshan in Raj Bhavans across the country.
(With PTI inputs)
