RLD chief Trilok Tyagi booked for ‘Harijan Aayog’ remark

AGRA: Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) national general secretary Trilok Tyagi has been booked under the SC/ST Act for allegedly referring to the Uttar Pradesh Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Commission as the “Harijan Aayog” during a party meeting last year.

The FIR was registered on June 26 at the Highway police station in Mathura district following direction by the National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. The action stems from a complaint filed by Rajendra Prasad, chairman of All India Federation of SC/ST Organisations. Prasad alleged that Tyagi used the “derogatory and objectionable” term while addressing a state executive and workers’ conference at a hotel on Saunkh Road on May 27 last year. The complaint notes that the term “Harijan” has long been prohibited by Parliament, the Union home ministry, and the ministry of social justice and empowerment, and that its usage violates constitutional dignity under Article 338. The complainant initially approached local police but faced inaction until the National Commission intervened. The case has now been filed under Section 352 (intentional insult to provoke breach of peace) of the BNS, along with relevant sections of the SC/ST Act. Mathura DSP Praveen Tiwari stated that a thorough investigation into the matter is currently underway