BJP gives 'alert citizen' award to Uber driver who took poet to Mumbai police over anti-CAA chat

Mumbai BJP chief Mangal Prabhat Lodhi on Saturday awarded an Uber driver who took poet-activist Bappadittya Sarkar to police station after he eavesdropped into his conversation on the amended citizen act.

The BJP MLA presented ‘Alert Citizen Award’ to cab driver Rohit Gaur at the Santacruz police station. The BJP leader also accused the passenger, of hatching an anti national conspiracy in opposition to the CAA.

"Rohit Gaur... who handed over the Uber taxi passenger devising anti-national conspiracy against the citizenship amendment act. Felicitated Rohit Gaur on behalf of the people of Mumbai calling him at the Santa Cruz Police Station and gave alert citizen award," Lodha tweeted. He also shared images showing him felicitating Gaur.

On Wednesday, Sarkar was taken to police station by the driver. Sarkar, a resident of Jaipur who arrived in Mumbai on 3rd February, also took part in the ongoing anti-CAA protest at Nagpada in Mumbai.

On Wednesday, while travelling by an Uber cab, he was discussing protest against the CAA with a friend on phone. Overhearing the conversation, the driver summoned policemen and asked them to take Sarkar into custody. Sarkar was allowed to leave after an inquiry.

The driver allegedly told Sarkar that he should be thankful that he took him to police station and not somewhere else. Sarkar later stated that the driver’s aggressive conduct and harsh language reflected the mood in the country.

The 23-year-old poet also stated that despite the incident, he was not going to file a complaint against the driver as it might ruin his career.

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