Will Manoj Tiwari face jail for violating Sec 171 of IPC by wearing military jacket at Sankalp bike rally?

Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari has drawn flak for attending the BJP organised Sankalp Rally in Delhi in military fatigues. Tiwari flagged off a BJP bike rally in his North East Delhi Lok Sabha constituency on Saturday.

According to the Section 171 of the Indian Penal Code, wearing clothing resembling military clothing is a crime punishable by imprisonment for a certain period of time which may extend to three months, or with fine which may extend to two hundred rupees, or with both.

“Wearing garb or carrying token used by public servant with fraudulent intent. Whoever, not belonging to a certain class of public servants, wears any garb or carries any token resembling any garb or token used by that class of public servants, with the intention that it may be believed, or with the knowledge that it is likely to be believed, that he belongs to that class of public servants, shall be punished with imprisonment of either descrip­tion for a term which may extend to three months, or with fine which may extend to two hundred rupees, or with both.”

However, Manoj Tiwari defended his stance by stating that, "I wore (the uniform) simply because I felt proud of my Army. I am not in Indian army but i was expressing my feeling of solidarity. Why should it be treated like an insult? I have the highest regard for our Army. By this logic, if I wear a Nehru Jacket tomorrow, will it be an insult to Jawaharlal nehru?"

Trinamool Congress MP Derek O’Brien said it was a “shameless act” on Tiwari’s part.

“Shameless. Shameless. Shameless. Manoj Tiwari BJP MP and Delhi President wearing Armed Forces uniform and seeking votes. BJP-Modi-Shah insulting and politicising our jawans. And then giving lectures on patriotism. Low life,” he tweeted, targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah.

National Conference leader Omar Abdullah also posted a photograph of Tiwari addressing BJP supporters in the military jacket, along with a caption that read: "And senior BJP leaders including the Hon PM want to lecture the opposition about politicising the recent military action. Go figure!"

Congress leader Sharmistha Mukherjee said that Tiwari's act was nothing short of a political stunt. "Utterly disgusting and disgraceful! A soldier sacrifices his life to uphold the dignity and honour of this uniform. And BJP MP Manoj Tiwari is turning it into Tamasha resorting to cheap stunts and cheaper politics," she tweeted.

In the wake of the Pulwama terror attack, both the BJP and the opposition have accused each other of politicising the events leading up to the escalation of tensions between India and Pakistan. Most opposition parties claim that the BJP is using the military’s achievements during the airstrikes for political gains ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.