The Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued notice to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) seeking its comments on the objections made by three groups of prominent Hindu seers for making Ayodhya Ram temple an agenda in the party’s election manifesto released recently for the Uttar Pradesh assembly polls.
Under Secretary, Election Commission, B C Patra has issued the notice to BJP president seeking comments on the objections made by office-bearers of three organisations including Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha, Akhil Bharatiya Sant Samiti and Sant Mahasaba.
In the memorandum given to EC, the seers’ organisations have demanded the EC to scrap mention of Ram Temple from the BJP manifesto. The organisations have stated that India is the country of various religions and communities and its Constitution ensures equal rights to every person of all the religions and communities.
These organisations have appealed to the EC to either scarp the mention of Ram mandir from the manifesto or cancel the entire manifesto.
“Ayodhya temple is a very sensitive issue and its politicisation is a crime. A case about the Ram temple is pending at the Supreme Court. By making the Ayodya Ram temple an agenda in the election manifesto, the BJP has violated model code of conduct,” said Swami Chakrapani, national president, Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha.
Chakrapani said that he will file a contempt case against the BJP in the Supreme Court soon.
–Agencies–