THE Muzaffarnagar police have filed a chargesheet against BJP president Amit Shah for his alleged ?hate speech? during the Lok Sabha poll campaign in Uttar Pradesh.

Muzaffarnagar SSP H N Singh confirmed that a chargesheet had been filed against Shah at the district court.

The case dates back to April 3, when Shah, in a reference to the Muzaffarnagar riots, allegedly said at a meeting of Jat leaders in Raajhar village, 40 km from Muzaffarnagar, that ?this election is about voting out the government that protects and gives compensation to those who killed Jats… It is about badla (revenge) and protecting izzat (honour).?

The next day, at a meeting with leaders of three communities ? Gurjjars, Rajputs and Dalits ? at a farmhouse in Gandhi Colony in Muzaffarnagar, he allegedly said, ?A man can live without food or sleep. He can live when he?s thirsty and hungry. But when he?s insulted, he can?t live. Apmaan ka badla toh lena padega (We have to take revenge for the insult).?

A purported video of the meetings quotes him as saying, ?Jinhone hamare samaj ka apmaan kiya, jinhone hamare samaaj ke logon ki hatya ki… logon ko maut ke ghat utaar diya, un logon ke sath baithkar kabhi hamara samman badh sakta hai kya? (Those who have insulted our community, those who have killed people of our community… is it possible for our honour to increase if we sit with them).?

Shah, who was then the BJP general secretary in charge of the campaign in Uttar Pradesh, is reported to have said that under the Samajwadi Party government in the state, certain communities had been ?rendered second-class citizens? because of the ?favorable treatment given to minorities?.

The Election Commission had barred Shah from campaigning in the state. The ban was later lifted after Shah asked the EC to reconsider its decision, saying he had not violated the model code and his remarks had not been recorded in the right perspective.

A case was registered against Shah at the New Mandi police station for violating the model code of conduct following the EC?s directions. The police said the EC had taken suo moto cognizance of the matter and issued a directive to them to investigate the charges.

?The EC asked us to investigate the remarks made by Shah. The investigation was carried out on the basis of comments that he made, which were also recorded. These vireos were later reported by television channels and are in the public domain,? said IG Meerut zone, Alok Sharma.

?After the filing of the FIR, the court will summon Shah and ask him to place his view, following which the charges could be framed,? he said.

DSP, New Mandi Circle, Yogender Singh, said a chargesheet has been filed against Shah under IPC sections 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, etc.), 295A (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class) and 505 (false statement, rumour, etc. circulated with intent to cause mutiny or offense against the public peace), and Section 123-3 of the Representation of the People Act (making an appeal to vote on the grounds of religion amounting to corrupt practice).