Ahmedabad: With the December 12 Assembly polls drawing closer, Bharatiya Janata
Party (BJP) on December 8 asked Election Commission to take suo motu action against
Muslim outfits issuing fatwas directing the community to vote for the Congress.
"If the Election Commission can take suo motu action against Hindu organisations,
prevent or stop their programmes and even get their leaders arrested in the name of
misuse of religion, we expect similar action against Muslim outfits issuing fatwas
(religious edicts) favouring a particular political party," BJP national treasurer
and in-charge (Prabhari) for Gujarat Ramdass Aggarwal said.
The issuance of fatwas by several Muslim organisations in Gujarat was "agitating the
minds of the Hindu community", he said.
"When the EC is in total control of the poll process and administration, it should
ensure free and fair polls and take uniform action against violators of Law," he
said.
Asked whether the BJP would officially register its protest in this regard with the
Election Commission, Aggarwal said, "We will bring it to their notice."
The BJP leader also charged the Congress with simultaneously playing the communal,
casteist and anti-incumbency cards in the elections.
"They are raising the Hindu bogey among Muslims, the Patel, Khatri, Bania and OBC
factors among rural Hindus and anti-incumbency factor among urban voters," Aggarwal
said.
Under the circumstances, the BJP would be forced to urge Hindus to unite and thwart
attempts aimed at dividing them, he added.
PTI
