New Delhi: The Election Commission has issued a notice to BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj to show cause why action should not be taken against him for his controversial remarks indirectly blaming Muslims for the population growth.
Sakshi Maharaj has been given time till Wednesday morning to file his reply to the notice.
The EC action comes two days after he was booked by police for allegedly hurting religious feelings, days after Supreme Court outlawed seeking votes in the name of religion or caste.
The EC in the notice issued on Monday night said prima facie the MP from Unnao in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh has violated the model code which came into force on January 4 following announcement of assembly polls in five states.
It said read in entirety, his remarks “have effect of promoting enmity between classes of society.”
Maharaj while acknowledging that he received the notice on Tuesday indicated he needed more time to respond to it and claimed that he had not said anything for which he was liable to be served the notice.
“I haven’t said anything for which I am liable to be served the notice. Neither did I ask for votes, nor did I say anything which conveys so. I didn’t name any community. I only said that the population growth rate should be restricted in the country. Why should any particular community relate to my comments?”
“Also, since I don’t have the knowledge of English, I have asked my office to request the Election Commission to serve me the Hindi version of the notice. I will be able to understand the content of the notice only after it is translated into Hindi,” he added.
