Congress social media chief Divya Spandana said she doesn't regret calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi a 'thief'. The Lucknow Police had booked Spandana under sedition law on September 25, after she tweeted, "Rafale Deal: Technical HODs at Dassault Aviation claim Reliance Defence was never the first choice, decision to drop HAL was taken by CEO Eric Trappier at the last minute! #ChorPMChupHai [thief PM is silent]."
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The police charged Spandana under section 124A of the IPC and section 67 of the IT Act, which accuses her of maligning a democratically elected leader and insulting India. The complainant was Syed Rizwan, a Lucknow-based social activist.
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The police is now considering summoning Spandana for questioning.
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Speaking to THE WEEK, Spandana said: "I stand by my statements. It doesn't matter if they [BJP] make a big deal about it. I haven't said anything wrong. He [Modi] is responsible for the Rafale scam, which has costed the nation Rs 1,30,000 crore of taxpayers' money. His party members and ministers have been spinning lies and the PM has never responded or made a single statement in this regard."
Not bothered by the sedition case and criticism from certain quarters, Spandana, on Sept 26, tweeted a still from the forthcoming Bollywood film, Thugs of Hindostan, where Aamir Khan's character says: Dhokha Swabhaav Hai Mera (Betrayal is in my nature). Spandana, below that post, said, "PM Modi to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited."
The actor-turned-politician was appointed the social media chief of the Congress in May 2017.
