Meerut police registered an FIR against BJP MP from Unnao, Sakshi Maharaj who has stirred a controversy with his statement that ‘increase in population was due to people who have four wives and 40 children’.
“This population rise in not because of the Hindus. Population has risen due to those who support the concept of four wives and 40 children,” he said on Friday while addressing a gathering at an event organised to inaugurate a temple at Meerut.
The lawmaker’s indication obviously was towards Muslims, because Islam allows a man to take four wives.
When Maharaj was asked by media about his controversial remark today, he jumped into a defence mode saying he did not comment on any community.
"I have not commented on any community. I have been misquoted and am ready to face Election Commission," the BJP leader said.
The alleged hate speech of Sakshi Maharaj came days after the Supreme Court passed an order prohibiting any use of religion, caste, race, community or language to seek votes.
Meanwhile, the opposition parties have alleged that they will bring the issue to the notice of the Election Commission.
Congress leader KC Mittal said that the speech of Maharaj based on religion and caste is very offensive and it violates the Model Code.
“I feel action should be taken. We will definitely move the EC. At the same time, on the basis of the recent SC judgement, we will request the poll body to issue appropriate instructions to district election officers as well as the block officers so that no election campaign is carried out on the basis of caste and religion, as BJP has been doing,” he said.
Accusing the BJP of fighting elections based on caste and religion, UP Congress leader Akhilesh Singh said that it is the only agenda of the saffron party.
"The BJP leader's communal remarks are a trick to divert attention from promises made by PM Modi. He should be dismissed from Parliament and BJP should expel him from the party," Singh said.
The Samajwadi Party also slammed the BJP, highlighting the Supreme Court’s ruling on the same.
“There is no point of making such statements. Even the Supreme Court has given its ruling banning use of religion, caste and community to seek votes during elections. I would urge BJP to stop such things. Elections cannot be won by creating a stressful environment,” senior SP leader Naresh Agarwal said.
"The Election Commission should take a suo moto cognizance of Sakshi Maharaj's speech. But, more importantly, it is to be seen, what action the BJP takes against him," JD(U) leader Pawan Verma said.
The BJP, on the other hand, distanced itself from the statement of Maharaj.
“This shouldn't be seen as BJP's stand. It is his personal view,” Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said.
