NEW DELHI: The Election Commission has censured BJP’s Sakshi Maharaj over his population control remark.
The Commission had earlier issued a notice+ to the BJP MP asking why action should not be taken against him for his controversial statement.
The EC in the notice said prima facie the MP from Unnao in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh has violated the model code which came into force on January 4 following announcement of Assembly polls in five states+ , including Uttar Pradesh.
Speaking at a sant sammelan in Meerut last week, Sakshi Maharaj had said+ , “Desh mein samasyaein khadi ho rahi hain jansankhya ke karan. Uske liye Hindu zimmedar nahin hain Zimmedar toh wo hain jo chaar biwion aur chalees bachchon ki baatein karte hain.” (There are problems in the country because of the growth of population. Hindus are not responsible for that. Those responsible are the ones who talk of four wives and 40 children.)
The BJP MP’s remarks come days after the Supreme Court ruled that political parties and candidates can’t seek votes in the name of religion or caste+ and ahead of the first phase of polling in Uttar Pradesh on February 11. He also came in for sharp condemnation from opposition parties.
Meerut police filed an FIR against Sakshi Maharaj+ on Saturday 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.
PTI