Taking cognisance of a complaint lodged by the Congress, the Election Commission has issued a notice to BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj for his recent speech in Uttar Pradesh’s Meerut that allegedly promoted enmity on religious grounds.
The MP has been asked to respond to the allegations by Wednesday. However, it is learnt that Sakshi Maharaj has sought time to furnish his reply. He has also asked for a Hindi translation of the notice that he received on Tuesday.
Model code
Noting that the Model Code of Conduct was in place in the poll-bound State and that there was a Supreme Court judgment terming appeal for votes on religious grounds a corrupt practice, the EC raised questions on the speech given on January 6. A video clip of the speech has also been sent to him.
Earlier this month, the Supreme Court held that an appeal for votes during elections on the basis of religion, caste, race, community or language, even that of the electorate, will amount to a corrupt practice under Section 123 of the Representation of the People Act and calls for disqualification of the candidate.
The Congress complaint filed on January 7 alleges that Sakshi Maharaj’s speech, read in entirety, had the effect of promoting enmity between different classes in connection with the election on grounds of religion. In the speech, he had allegedly said that it was not the Hindu community, but those who talked about four wives and 40 children were responsible for the population growth.
Police book case
The Meerut police have registered a case against Sakshi Maharaj for allegedly uttering words with deliberate intent to wound religious feelings, disobeying government directive, indulging in deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings and imputations prejudicial to national integration.
