The Meerut district administration registered a case against BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj for his controversial statement, while the Congress demanded stern action against the leader. The Election Commission has also sought a report on the remark madeby the Unnao MP.
At a religious function in Meerut on Friday, Maharaj said, “Its not Hindus who are responsible for the rising population, but those who are permitted to have four wives and 40 children.
It can only be controlled if strict laws are introduced in the system.”
An FIR was registered under IPC sections 298 (uttering, words, etc. with deliberate intent to wound the religious feelings of any person), 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), 295A (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class) and 153B (imputations, assertions prejudicial to national-integration) among others.
The action of the Meerut Police came a day after the MP indirectly blamed Muslims for the population growth in the country.
Meanwhile, the Congress claimed that the statements made by Maharaj was a clear case of violation of the recent Supreme Court order on keeping religion off the table during poll campaigning.
State Congress general secretary and MlC Deepak Singh responded to the Maharaj’s comments and demanded his dismissal from the Parliament.
“The BJP leader’s communal remarks are a trick to divert attention from promises made by PM Narendra Modi. He should be dismissed from Parliament and the BJP should expel him from the party,” Singh demanded.
“BJP leaders are making derogatory comments against one section of the society to incite another which is a violation of Model Code of Conduct. This is also a criminal act,” Singh said and added that Congress would also file a complaint with the Election Commission.
Earlier this week, the SC had declared that religion and caste cannot be used to seek votes by political parties, asserting that religion has no role in the electoral process and that it is just a secular activity.
Meanwhile, the EC too sought a report from Meerut district authorities over the statement to assess whether it constituted a violation of the Model Code of Conduct.
DM og Meerut B Chandrakala said, “We got information about some comments during the ‘sant sammelan’ held at Augharnath Temple through various newspapers. ADM City and City Magistrate are probing the matter from all aspects. We will take action according to law if we find anything.”