Kanpur police books 25 traders for comparing PM Narendra Modi with North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un

KANPUR: Kanpur police have registered a case against 25 traders for comparing Prime Minister Narendra Modi with North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un in hoardings and banners erected across city crossings seeking attention of authorities in view of the banks refusing to take Rs 10 coin as deposits citing lack of chests.

It all began when a good number of hoardings and banners of Prime Minister comparing him with North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un surfaced on Oct 12 morning at various crossings of the City ahead of BJPs state executive meeting.

The police subsequently acting on the complaint have lodged an FIR the same day under various sections of IPC and UP Special Power act and arrested one person identified as Praveen Agnihotri son of Dhyan Prakash of Bedi Alipur village, Billhaur, accused of putting up such hoardings and banners against Prime Minister Narendra Modi across the City.

"The action was taken based on a complaint by locals of the area following surfacing of hoardings and banners in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi has allegedly been compared with North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un. An FIR under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 505 (Statements conducing to public mischief) and 153 (Wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot- if rioting be committed-if not committed, besides 32 (3) UP Special Power act has been lodged at Govindnagar police station," said SP South Ashok Kumar Verma, who added that police is raiding possible hideouts of 24 other accused, who are reported to be absconding.

As per the sources there are about 200 to 300 crore coins in circulation in Industrial City and as banks and shopkeepers are not accepting the same, the traders have left with no option but are being forced to pay salaries to their employees in coins. It was also learnt that traders are exchanging coins at 25 percent of their value to get currency notes to avoid hardships and run their business smoothly.

In hoardings it was mentioned that Kim Jong-un will rest only after he has destroyed the world and on the other side it was mentioned that of Modi saying that he will bring an end to businesses.

Reacting over the arrest of Praveen Agnihotri, who has been accused of putting up such hoardings and banners, the traders union leader Raju Khanna however said they they will not celebrate Diwali as their counterpart who was fighting for their genuine cause has been arrested.

"The arrest has shocked the family of Praveen Agnihotri. His family is in shock. All are terrified. Now tell me, in such a situation wherein one of our counterpart has been booked and arrested, how can we celebrate Diwali. Is it not inhuman?", he added and said they had installed hoardings and banners to bring the crisis to the knowledge of senior authorities besides chief minister Yogi Aditynath after their meetings with officials concerned could not reach any conclusion.

He said the hoardings and posters were the last step to draw the attention of the Centre and state authorities.

"We will not get scared. By doing such things, one can't terrorise us. We will launch a fierce attack and expose loop-holes of the authorities particularly over the ongoing business crisis occurred following refusal by banks to accept deposits in Rs 10 coin denominations. We have nothing to fear," said another
member of Kirana Vyapar Mandal association.