A writ petition was filed in the Calcutta High Court against Union Home Minister Amit Shah Tuesday, alleging that he made “provocative and derogatory” remarks during an election rally in Darjeeling on April 21. Justice Krishna Rao’s single bench granted permission for the petition, with a hearing likely scheduled for Thursday.
The petitioner, Noortaj Ahammed Mallick, moved the court following a public address delivered by Shah during the ongoing West Bengal Assembly elections campaign. The petition highlights several specific phrases used in the speech that the petitioner claims are “derogatory, provocative and threatening”.
The petitioner argues that the phrase “Ulta latka kar seedha kar denge”, meaning “will hang you upside down to set you right”, conveys a threat of physical harm and coercion, inciting fear among political workers and the public. He also cited “Mamata ke goonde”, referring to Trinamool Congress supporters as “goons” and cited it as an attempt to lower the dignity of political opponents.
The petition alleges that Shah’s remarks foster a sense of insecurity and “hostility rather than democratic, issue-based contestation.” It further states that the speech included references suggesting potential political consequences tied to specific timelines or post-election periods. This is perceived to create intimidation and apprehension among certain segments of the electorate during the election process, as per the petitioner.
According to the petitioner, a detailed complaint was submitted to the Election Commission of India (ECI), the Chief Electoral Officer of West Bengal, and the district magistrate of Darjeeling on April 26. However, the petition states that no “substantive action” was communicated, prompting the move to the High Court.
The petitioner’s counsel has requested the court to restrain Shah from delivering further “hate speech” or provocative statements, issue a warning against using defamatory language during the remainder of the election process, and pass orders regarding violations of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).
Meanwhile, polling in the remaining 142 Assembly constituencies is underway Wednesday in the second phase of West Bengal’s elections across seven districts. The counting is on May 4.