Farrukhabad (UP):
The Uttar Pradesh Police on Tuesday filed a case against Congress leader Salman Khurshid and his niece Maria Alam after they called for a “vote jihad” in favor of the INDIA block candidate from the Farrukhabad Lok Sabha seat.
Seeking votes for INDIA Bloc candidate Naval Kishore Shakya, Ms. Alam, a Samajwadi Party (SP) leader, on Monday appealed for 'vote jihad' and termed it necessary in the current situation for the minority community to to oust the BJP government. .
Taking note of Maria Alam's comments, a case was registered against her for violating the provisions of the IPC and the Representation of People Act, following a complaint filed by the Flying Squad and Surveillance Team, the police said, and added that a case had also been registered against Mr Khurshid, who was the chief guest at the election rally in Kaimganj.
Speaking to PTI on Tuesday, Kaimganj police station SHO Ramautar said, “A case has been registered against Maria Alam and Salman Khurshid on the basis of a complaint filed by the Flying Squad and Surveillance Team.
“The case was registered under Sections 188 (disobedience to an order duly promulgated by a public servant), 295A (intentional and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) of the IPC and Section 125 (promoting enmity between classes in connection with elections) of the Representation of People Act,” he said.
She said: 'Vote together for jihad – with intelligence, without being sentimental and in silence. Like we can only vote for jihad to oust this Sanghi government.” Stressing that it was time to join hands, she said otherwise this “Sanghi government will succeed in eradicating our existence.”
“People say the constitution and democracy are under threat. But I say that the insaniyat (humanity) is under threat.
“Now there is an attack on 'insaniyat'. If you want to save the country, its beauty and 'ganga-jamuni' (composite) culture, vote very intelligently without being influenced by anyone,” she stressed.
The video of Ms Alam's statement has also gone viral on social media.
Asked to comment on his niece's statement, Mr Khurshid said he generally avoids such words because their literal meaning is misinterpreted.
“Jihad means fighting a situation. Her intention must have been to carry out a voting jihad to protect the constitution,” he said.
About his candidature from INDIA bloc from Farrukhabad seat, Mr Khurshid said he was offered Congress ticket from Aligarh. But he politely declined and said, “I am Salman Khurshid from Farrukhabad and I remain so alone”.
This was the first public meeting of the INDIA bloc in Farrukhabad with most of the senior leaders of the Congress and the SP present together at the dias.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)