Case Against Mumbai BJP Chief For Protest Near Secretariat Over Remarks On PM

Police have registered a case against BJP's Mumbai unit chief Mangal Prabhat Lodha and 31 others for staging a protest near the Mantralaya in Mumbai, an official said on Thursday.

The protest was organised by the BJP on Wednesday against Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole's remarks referring to 'Modi', he said. During the protest, police took Mr Lodha and others into custody and they were taken to the Marine Drive police station later, he said, adding they were charged under section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

या माविआ सरकारचे धोरण पाहा, पंतप्रधानांना जीवे मारण्याची धमकी देणाऱ्या नाना पटोले विरोधात कुठलीही कारवाई केली नाही, त्याउलट लोकशाही मार्गाने, महात्मा गांधीजींच्या पुतळ्यासमोर उपोषणाला बसलेल्या आम्हा भाजपा कार्यकर्त्यांना अटक केली !!

चोर सोडून संन्याशाला फाशी! pic.twitter.com/IJLw3wAeLk

- Mangal Prabhat Lodha (@MPLodha) January 19, 2022

Mr Patole, who had a brief stint with the BJP as an MP earlier, has kicked up a controversy with his purported remark that he could "beat up, badmouth Modi". He has, however, denied that he was speaking about Prime Minister Narendra Modi. But the BJP has been targeting Mr Patole over the remarks, with several leaders terming his clarification as false. The BJP has been demanding strict police action against him and seeking his arrest.