BJP says it’ll back poll panel’s action
With VHP leader Pravin Togadia coming under attack for allegedly “spreading venom” against minorities, the Gujarat Police filed an FIR against him on Monday and the Election Commission sought the recording of the speech made by him in Bhavnagar on Saturday in which he had reportedly remarked that Muslims should be stopped from buying property in Hindu areas. Bhavnagar police have started an inquiry into the alleged hate speech given by VHP chief Pravin Togadia.
“They (EC officials) are in the process of acquiring the recording of the statements made by Togadia and after listening to it they will decide the future course of action,” Bhavnagar District Collector and Returning Officer PK Solanki told PTI in Rajkot on Monday.
The BJP has distanced itself from the VHP leader by saying he was not a party member. “We have no control over him,” party spokesperson Meenakshi lekhi said.
BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar said, “If these reported remarks are correct, we completely denounce them. It is not BJP’s view. Whatever decision the EC takes in this regard, the Gujarat Gover-nment is bound to follow”.
Reacting to Togadia’s purported comment, the NDA ally Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) said the Indian society has no place for such people. The RSS dismissed the report, saying that “no swayamsevak thinks on such divisive lines.”
Denying the reports that Togadia has made such a statement, RSS spokes-person Ram Madhav said, “I have spoken to Praveen Togadia. He completely denies making such comments. It is fabricated” the RSS leader said adding “no swayamsevak thinks on such divisive lines”.
Under-fire Togadia himself termed the media reports about his controversial remarks as “false, malafide and mischievous.” “The report about a misinformed incident in Gujarat...Is false, malafide and mischievous,” Togadia said in a statement issued on his behalf by his lawyer.
“We wish to state here emphatically that there was nothing socially or legally wrong in the above advice given by my client to the said group as mentioned. The said report gives a completely false story intended to malign my client socially...,” it said.
Togadia said legal notices had been issued by his lawyer to media houses in Delhi and Gujarat. Congress leader and Union Minister Kapil Sibal hit out at the VHP leader and sought authorities in the State to act against Togadia.
“He always spreads venom, you know that. And he belongs to that category of people in this country who do not believe in the unity and the integrity of India. What can you say about people like thisIJ,” Congress leader and Union Minister Kapil Sibal said.
“It (statement) spreads venom and it is for the authorities to decide,” he said. Togadia had reportedly joined a group of VHP and Bajrang Dal members in a street protest in Rajkot on Saturday outside a house purchased by a Muslim businessman. Togadia reportedly told the gathering to take forcible possession of the house.
Denouncing the statement, Congress leader Rashid Alvi said, “I think Togadia should be given treatment. He should be hospitalised.
“In this country, if Hindus stay in a Hindu area and Muslims in a Muslim area, and they are not allowed to buy property in each other’s areas, it will be against the Constitution,” Alvi said. Naresh Gujaral of SAD said while he is not aware of what Togadia has exactly said India has survived because of its democracy.
“Democracy can survive only if there is accommodation and acceptance for each other....We can’t be rigid about these things and anybody who speaks this kind of language has no place in our society,” he said.