Congress approaches EC over BJP MP's remarks

BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj’s remarks appearing to blame the Muslim community for the population boom in the country prompted the Congress to approach the Election Commission (EC).

The Congress contended that it violated the Supreme Court judgement on the use of religion in garnering votes.

The Meerut police registered an FIR against Maharaj for deliberate attempts to outrage religious feelings, hurting religious feelings and making statements prejudicial to national integration.

In a memorandum to the EC, Congress leader K C Mittal contended that Maharaj’s remarks were in contravention of the apex court judgement on January 2, which states that seeking votes in the name of religion was impermissible under the Representation of the People Act, 1951.

The BJP distanced itself from Maharaj’s remarks. “His statement is not the government’s view and also not of the BJP,” Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said. JD(U) leader K C Tyagi termed Maharaj’s remarks the first major violation of the SC guidelines on the use of religion in politics.