The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) has moved the Election Commission of India (ECI) against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah.
Mr. Shah had earned the IUML’s ire for a purported comment in which he allegedly drew a comparison between the party’s rally in Wayanad and mass demonstrations in Pakistan.
The controversy erupted after Mr. Shah allegedly told a public meeting in Nagpur on April 9 that Rahul Gandhi had chosen to contest from a seat in Kerala where it is difficult to discern whether a procession is Indian or Pakistani.
IUML charge
The IUML has accused Mr. Shah of deliberately misrepresenting the party's green flag as the national flag of Pakistan. It said Mr. Shah’s irresponsible and insulting comment came against the backdrop of IUML workers turning out in large numbers with party flags to welcome Rahul Gandhi to contest in Wayanad in Kerala.
The party said Mr. Shah had attempted to portray the IUML as fifth columnists sympathetic to India’s enemies to incite communal hatred against its supporters. He has also made a brazen attempt to whip up religious passions to make political capital at the expense of religious amity.
The IUML said Mr. Shah had at a stroke violated the model code of conduct and aimed to spread communal hatred, a crime under Section 153 A of the Indian Penal Code.
It requested the ECI to disable Mr. Shah’s social media accounts and restrain him from political campaigning or making hate speeches that put communities at odds with each other.
Khorrum A. Omer, national secretary, IUML, filed the petition.
