Three Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) workers from Haryana were arrested on 29 December for allegedly circulating fake news about CM Manohar Lal Khattar.
The complaint was registered by Bharatiya Janta Party, under IPC sections of 153 (provocation with intent to cause riots), 153A (promoting enmity on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, etc.) and IT Act section 66 (cyber crimes).
During the Haryana Mayoral elections, an image had gone viral on social media which claimed that Khattar had said he is chief minister only for the Punjabis and he has nothing to do with other communities.
Sources say this Fake News was photoshopped by AAP Haryana cyber cell and police might soon take strong action against AAPtards.
Expect them to do something to play victim, like attack themselves and blame Khattar. pic.twitter.com/dnSFBzas5J
— Ankur Singh (@iAnkurSingh) December 29, 2018
AAP’s digital head Ankit Lal had also endorsed such divisive views on Twitter claiming that everyone in Haryana believes that Khattar works only for the Punjabis.
ये बात तो हरियाणा के सभी लोग मानते हैं कि @mlkhattar सिर्फ़ पंजाबियों के काम करते हैं।
ऐसा करने के बाद फेसबुक, ट्विटर पर ये सच पोस्ट करने वाले 70 के करीब लड़कों को पुलिस द्वारा उठाना तानाशाही नहीं तो और क्या है?
Repeat after me #खट्टर_सिर्फ_पंजाबियों_का_मुख्यमंत्री https://t.co/H1d132Y5XA
— Ankit Lal (@AnkitLal) December 29, 2018
On December 28, AAP convenor and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal had also alleged BJP of exhibiting dictatorship and wrongful detention of 70 AAP workers who had put up such post on social media.
ये कैसी तानाशाही है? खट्टर साहिब को पंजाबियों का मुख्यमंत्री कहने पर कल देर रात 70 युवाओं को गिरफ़्तार कर लिया? https://t.co/lBlrFzoAJI
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) December 29, 2018
AAP social media in charge Harpal Kranti, IT in charge from Hisar and Anoop Chanot were among the three persons arrested for circulating the fake news attributed to the Haryana chief minister. AAP has claimed as many as 70 of its workers are ‘detained’. AAP even condemned the police action and party workers burnt Khattar’s effigies in several districts as a mark of protest.
The BJP has clarified that an advertisement was given by a BJP candidate, not by the party. However, AAP workers allegedly morphed the image and started circulating it as if the party had published the advertisement.
Last night, AAP had announced that the party will contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections from Delhi, Punjab, Goa, Chandigarh and Haryana.
