A day after getting a show cause notice from the Election Commission (EC), BJP MP from Unnao, Sakshi Maharaj on Wednesday appeared before the poll panel and refused to apologise stating that he made the comments on an apolitical platform and did not say anything wrong.
Defending his controversial remarks blaming Muslims for population rise in the country, Maharaj cited lord Krishna and lalu Prasad saying lord Krishna had 16,000 consorts while lalu Prasad has nine children so his statement should not be seen against any community and it was not a political speech.
The BJP MP also said that he was unable to comprehend the notice issued to him as it was written in English. “They have sent a notice in English and I am unable to understand it. I have told my office in Delhi to request the Election Commission to send a Hindi translation of its notice. I got the notice today. I will prepare my reply tomorrow (Thursday). It’s my birthday day after tomorrow (Friday). So, I will seek time for two or three days to file my reply. It's nothing so big. I thank and respect the Election Commission for issuing the notice,” he added.
“My statement in Meerut was not aimed at hurting the sentiments of any community. The video of my statement can be seen, I did not take the name of any community. What I said was in reference to everybody and so I feel there is no basis for the EC notice. The EC has sent a notice according to its duty. My duty was to speak and their duty was to send a notice. Now it's my obligation to give them a correct reply,” Maharaj said.
In his two pages reply written in Hindi, Maharaj claimed that he did not violate any poll conduct and said that he was speaking at programme ‘saint sammelan’ (congregation of saints) organised for 'saints' only and it was not a political rally.
He further said, “I didn't name any community”. …Population must be controlled; women are not machines to deliver babies”.
“I have not said anything wrong. The population of the country is increasing. Do you think 40 children should be born into every familyIJ This should be controlled. I stand by my comment. I haven't named any community,” said Maharaj who also referred lord Krishna having 16,000 companion while lalu Prasad Yadav has nine children.