Indian election commission censures Shiv Sena MP for demanding disenfranchisement of Muslims

Election authority says such remarks violate the election code of conduct

NEW DELHI: The election commission of India on Wednesday expressed "strong displeasure" over Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut's remarks that Muslims should be stripped of voting rights and advised him to be more careful in the future.

In its order the election authority said making such remarks is a violation of election code of conduct.

“Muslims in this country have no future so long as politics centers on Muslim votes. That is why the Sena chief Balasaheb Thackeray had made a demand in order to curb the trading of Muslim vote banks. Voting rights must be taken away from Muslims which is correct,” Rout is alleged to have stated in an article published in Saamana, a publication considered to be a Shiv Sena mouthpiece, on April 12.

The commission said his comment piece violated the model code of conduct of by-poll in Vandre East and Tasgaon Kavathe Mahankali assembly constituencies of Maharashtra.

Raut was asked to file his reply to the show-cause notice on May 11, in which he had questioned the authority of the Commission to issue such a notice, while claiming he had not violated any provision.

According to the Indian electoral authority, the Shiv Sena leader’s remark violated sub para (1) of Para 1 of the poll code, which restrains party leaders and candidates from making communal appeals and statements that can create mutual hatred, and sub-para 4 of Para 1, which bars "corrupt practices" and offences under the election law.

The article originally appeared on India Today