Ashish Shelar files EC plaint against Owaisi for raking up religion

Mumbai: The Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Mumbai president Ashish Shelar on Monday wrote to the state election commission against All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader Asaduddin Owaisi for demanding a separate budget in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) for Muslims depending on their population. Mr Shelar said the statement by the AIMIM leader was illegal and inflammatory. Mr Owaisi had said on Sunday that Muslims constitute 21 per cent of the population and hence they should be allotted Rs 7,000 crore.

“Demanding the BMC budget for Muslims based on their population is inflammatory. We oppose and condemn the demand. This will harm peace in the community and create fissures. It is also against the Supreme Court’s Monday verdict against demanding votes in the name of religion,” Mr Shelar said. He was referring to the Supreme Court’s landmark decision in which it said that no politician could seek votes in the name of caste, creed or religion. In a hearing on the ‘Hindutva case’, the apex court said elections are a secular exercise and thereby its way and process should be followed. The SC held that any appeal for votes on grounds of religion amounts to corrupt practices under electoral laws, in a majority verdict.