'Modiji is our leader': MP man claims he is being framed in PM Modi abuse controversy, files complaint over fake photos

Rizwi said he has filed a police complaint to have the images taken down from social media platforms. He further urged that his “call records and location history” be examined to prove that he has never been in Bihar, where elections are scheduled later this year.

"Check my call details and locations. I have never visited Bihar in my lifetime. I have no relation at all with Bihar," he said, showing a copy of his police complaint on the camera, reported NDTV.

"I have lodged a complaint to remove my photos from social media; there is a disinformation campaign against me and an attempt to defame the BJP," he has been quoted as saying.

The controversy began on Friday after the BJP claimed that “extremely abusive language” had been directed at the Prime Minister and his late mother Heeraben during Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s Voter Adhikar Yatra in Bihar. The party alleged the event “humiliated the people of Bihar (and) crossed all limits of insult, hatred, and lowliness.”

Following the uproar, Darbhanga Police said in a post on X that a suspect had been arrested, though they did not name Rizwi.

The MP man also reportedly said, "The Congress is wondering why Muslims are supporting the BJP and not them. The BJP is doing a lot of good work for the country. This inspired us to be with the BJP. I condemn the use of my fake photo."

BJP leaders filed a complaint at Patna’s Kotwali Police Station, demanding an apology from Rahul Gandhi. Addressing the issue, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar wrote, “During the Voter Adhikaar Yatra, the kind of abusive language used from the Congress and RJD stage against Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji and his late mother is extremely inappropriate, and I condemn it.”

The Congress dismissed the charges, calling the matter “irrelevant.”

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, speaking at a rally in Assam, asserted that the Congress “always abused PM Modi” and described the incident as a “stain” on the country. In an online post, he added that Rahul Gandhi had taken Congress to its “lowest political level.”

A clash between the Congress and the BJP spilled out on the streets on Friday when BJP workers stormed the state Congress headquarters, prompting the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha to declare “truth always triumphs”.

While the person who had allegedly screamed expletives into the mic at Darbhanga two days ago was arrested, BJP workers in the state capital staged a march to the Sadaqat Ashram, the BPCC headquarters, and clashed with their counterparts in the opposition party.

“We will not tolerate the insult to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Rahul Gandhi, his party and alliance partners will have to apologise,” said state minister Nitin Nabin who had led the procession from the BJP office, situated a couple of kilometres from Sadaqat Ashram.

Gandhi, who was in Gopalganj, about 120 kms away, came out with an X post in Hindi, indirectly referring to the clash.

“Violence and falsehood stand no chance before truth and non-violence. Indulge in assault and vandalism to your heart’s content. We will continue our fight to protect truth and the Constitution. Truth always triumphs! (Satyamev Jayate)”, wrote Gandhi.

Congress general secretary Sachin Pilot, who is accompanying Gandhi, was more blunt.

“Whoever used abusive language deserves condemnation. But it is wrong to associate the Congress and the INDIA bloc with the episode. And the attack on our party’s state headquarters was abominable. We hope the Bihar government takes appropriate action against the accused. It is clear that the BJP is rattled by the success of Voter Adhikar Yatra”, said Pilot.

Addressing the same press conference, RJD national spokesman Manoj Jha said, “We took no time in condemning the incident. But has the BJP ever apologised for many foul remarks made, over the years, by its top leaders, including the Prime Minister himself? They are the followers of Nathuram Godse who assassinated Mahatma Gandhi.” Today, they could not have fired bullets, so they wielded sticks, Jha said and claiming that it was an attempt by the saffron party to make headlines.

“The BJP, which rules the Centre, may get so-called mood of the nation surveys published in its favour, but it knows that if elections are held today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be left looking for options for himself,” he said.

Congress general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal wrote on X: “Baffled by the soaring popularity of the Voter Adhikar Yatra, the BJP has once again unleashed its hooligans to intimidate and scare us. The attack on our Bihar PCC office Sadaqat Ashram in Patna, led by a cabinet minister and other BJP leaders, is an act of cowardice.” The Bihar police must take strict and exemplary action against perpetrators of this crime, he said.

Diksha, Superintendent of Police, Patna Central, said, “Injuries have been sustained by people from both sides. The situation has been brought under control. Further action may be taken after investigation.” Notably, abusive language was used in Jale assembly segment of Darbhanga on Wednesday when Gandhi, his sister and Congress general secretary Priyanka Vadra and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav had passed through the district on motorcycles.

On Thursday, local Congress leader Mohd Naushad, who has been named in a case lodged at Simri police station by Darbhanga BJP president Adityan Narayan “Manna”, admitted that the video was of a podium he had got erected, but claimed that profane language was used by people not known to him in his absence.

On Friday, Darbhanga police identified the culprit as Mohd Rizvi alias Raja, a 20-year-old resident of Singhwara, and arrested him.

Meanwhile, senior Congress leader Pawan Khera, who heads the party’s media and publicity department, claimed that he suspected the “BJP toolkit” at work.

“We would like to know who had instigated the person to indulge in such behaviour. It is obvious that we would not do anything that would take the focus away from Yatra. The BJP toolkit works by planting such elements in gatherings of opposition parties so that its leaders can later on raise a huge and cry,” Khera said.

With inputs from agencies