Ghaziabad, Apr 12 (PTI): The Ghaziabad police on Saturday booked Uttar Pradesh minister Azam Khan for his comments on India’s 1999 conflict with Pakistan, using charges of promoting enmity on ground of religion and other offences

But Khan, a close aide of Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, remained defiant.

On Friday, after he made the comments, the Election Commission had banned him from campaigning in Uttar Pradesh, and asked the authorities to begin criminal proceedings.

Khan had reportedly told a rally in a Muslim-dominated area that the 1999 Kargil conflict with Pakistan was won by Muslim soldiers of the Indian army.

The first information report has been filed at Masuri Police Station in Ghaziabad.

The charges against Khan are under various sections of the Indian Penal Code -- Section 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on ground of religion, race), 153B (Imputations, assertions prejudicial to national integration) and 295A (Deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs).

The charges also include Sections 505 (2) (statements creating or promoting enmity, hatred or ill- will between classes) and 188 (Disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of the IPC.

In a speech on April 7, Azam Khan had reportedly said “Kargil ki pahadiyo ko fateh karne wala koi Hindu nahi tha, balki Kargil ki pahadiyo ko nara-e-takbeer Allah-Hu-Akbar kehkar fathe karnewale Musalman fauji the (peaks of Kargil were not conquered by Hindus, but by Muslim soldiers).

Speaking in Rampur on Saturday, Azam Khan said he had not said anything wrong and was a “nationalist”.

He said that the EC's step was “premature” as he was not given a hearing and he will urge the Commission to review its decision.