A case was lodged against Samajwadi Party leader Maria Alam after she appealed to the people to practise ‘vote jihad’ in the Lok Sabha elections. She was addressing an election rally in Farrukhabad in Uttar Pradesh.
Alam, veteran Congress leader Salman Khurshid’s niece said, “Together do ‘vote jihad’ – with intelligence, without being sentimental and with silence. As we can only do ‘vote jihad’ to drive away this Sanghi government. It is time to join hands, otherwise this Sanghi government will succeed in wiping out our existence.”
Alam was campaigning in support of INDIA bloc candidate from Kaimganj, Naval Kishore Shakya. “People say that the Constitution and democracy are under threat. But I say that ‘insaniyat’ (humanity) is under threat. Now there is an attack on ‘insaniyat’. If you want to save the country, its beauty and ‘ganga-jamuni’ (composite) culture, then vote very intelligently without getting influenced by anyone,” Alam is heard saying in a video.
An FIR was lodged against Alam and Salman Khurshid by Farrukhabad Police soon after the video went viral. Both leaders were charged under IPC Sections 188, 295(A), and violating the Model Code of Conduct.
Khurshid was present at the poll event as the chief guest. When asked about the remarks made by his niece, he said he avoids using such words because their literal meaning is misinterpreted. “Jihad means to fight against a situation. Her intention must have been to carry out vote jihad to protect the Constitution,” he said.
Strong objection
Meanwhile, the BJP took strong objection to Alam’s remarks. BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya, tweeted: “Muslims need to be saved from Muslim leaders if they have to progress”.
“Shaming Muslims for supporting a non-Muslim is a recipe for building an Islamic Caliphate. And the Congress claims to be secular,” he added. “If an educated Salman Khurshid’s extended family is so radicalised, one can imagine the plight of ordinary Muslims.”
BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla also lashed out at the INDIA bloc over Maria’s remarks and sought action from the Election Commission of India (ECI).
“INDI Alliance says Elections need Vote (votebank) Jihad. We consider elections to be a pious festival, they take it as Jihad. We request Janta support , they seek Jihadi support. First Jihadis ke saath (SP, Congress, RJD, etc) now they do Jihad ki baat. From Muslim league manifesto to Muslim league mindset and manifestation. Should ECI not act on this (sic)?” Poonawalla tweeted.
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