Congress politician Raja Pateria, who triggered a political scandal with his insulting remark about India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was arrested by state police from his house in Hatta part of the Damoh district in the state of Madhya Pradesh, media reports said on Tuesday.
Madhya Pradesh's home minister, Narottam Mishra, ordered a First Information Report (FIR) on Monday at Pawai police station in the state's city Panna.
Significantly, Congress, India and the BJP's main opposition party, has also sent former state minister Pateria a summons because of the incident.
The controversy was sparked on Monday after a video of Pateria addressing a group of people emerged online.
In the footage, Pateria says, “Modi will end elections, Modi will divide on the basis of religion, caste, language; the lives of Dalits, tribals, and minorities are in danger. If the constitution is to be saved, then be ready to kill Modi.”
Madhya Pradesh State Chief Shivraj Singh Chouhan condemned the remarks made by Pateria, suggesting that the "real face" of those "pretending" to do “Bharat Jodo Yatra” (Unite India Campaign) is "revealing itself", referring to the march former Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is undertaking at present.
“The respected PM Modi lives in the hearts of the people, he is the center of the admiration and faith of the entire country. Congress people can't face the PM in the electoral battle, and one Congress leader talks about his murder. This is the height of jealousy. This is excess hatred. Congress' real sentiments have been revealed, but such things won't be tolerated. An FIR is being registered, and the law will take its course,” the politician said.
Amid the backlash, Pateria tried to clarify that by asking people to "kill" Modi he actually meant a political defeat.