BJP leader Babul Supriyo is facing a police complaint for singing a song. Complainants, who are believed to have an affiliation to the Trinamool Congress (TMC), allege the lyrics of the song are defamatory.
New Delhi: The BJP-TMC faceoff has taken a new turn in Bengal with union minister and BJP leader Babul Supriyo facing a police complaint for singing a song. As bizarre as it may sound, it is true. Complainants, who are believed to have an affiliation to the Trinamool Congress (TMC), allege the lyrics of the song are defamatory. Meanwhile, in prompt action, the complaint has been turned into an FIR.
With immense pleasure, I want to give you all a sneak-peak of the BJP Campaign Song recording. Giving my voice to Amit Chakraborty's lyrics was such a delightful experience. I hope you love what we created. pic.twitter.com/UNAKx9OqUQ
— Chowkidar Babul Supriyo (@SuPriyoBabul)It all started with a tweet by Babul Supiyo on Tuesday afternoon, which gave a sneak peek of the BJP campaign song he had recorded. Supriyo himself was an accomplished singer, before he joined politics in 2014. In the song, written by Amit Chakraborty, Supriyo is heard singing, "Are futbe ebar poddoful, bangla chado tranamool... Ei Trinamool ar na, ar na, ar na" (The lotus will bloom this time, Trinamool should leave Bengal... Enough of this Trinamool).
But soon, a lesser known organisation called 'Paschim Bardhaman Students Library Coordination Committee' lodged a police complaint against the BJP minister. In the complaint, it is alleged, "the song is malicious and derogatory in nature and damages the reputation of Trinamool Congress and Ms Mamata Banerjee". It further demanded "immediate steps" be taken against the BJP leader.
And action has indeed been taken. Supriyo tweeted at 12.16 PM and a complaint was immediately lodged. It didn't take much time for the police to convert it to an FIR.
Meanwhile, the video has been widely shared through social media and has also been sung at BJP's political rallies. MyNation is in possession of one such video where people are seen singing the song in a rally of Babul Supriyo.
Meanwhile, as TMC maintains, the police will 'act as per law', BJP cries foul. This incident highlights the high political stakes both TMC and BJP have in Bengal after a song ruffled feathers. The two parties have been at logger heads for quite some time. BJP's rath yatra was stalled last year, following which BJP chief Amit Shah's helipad was changed at the last moment. The Mamata government didn't allow Yogi Adityanath's chopper to land for a rally in Purulia district in Bengal. But what stole the show was the CBI vs Kolkata Police showdown where CBI sleuths who went to question Kolkata Police Commissioner, in connection with multi-crore Saradha chit fund scam, were detained by Kolkata police instead.
(With Inputs from Anil Giri)
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