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The Election Commission has sought audio-video recordings of Vishwa Hindu Parishad president Pravin Togadia’s comments, according to media reports, where he allegedly stated that Muslims should not be allowed to buy property in Hindu areas.
When asked about Togadia’s statements made at Bhavnagar, V S Sampath, chief election commissioner of India, he said, “I know about the development, it is under police investigation.”
However, Togadia is learnt to have denied making any inflammatory speeches in Bhavnagar and has also issued a legal notice to certain sections of media stating that the reports were false.
The Election Commission is keeping a close watch on inflammatory speeches. “District magistrates and Superintendents of Police must take action on their own whenever they come across such instances,” Sampath said.
Togadia allegedly had delivered a hate-statement outside the house of a Muslim businessman in Bhavnagar on Saturday. Protesting outside the businessman’s house, he allegedly gave the occupant 48 hours to vacate his house, failing which he asked his followers to take forcible possession of his property and fight a legal battle later.
Bhavnagar district election officer K S Solanki said that the matter was under investigation. “We have sought audio recordings of Pravin Togadiya’s speech. The video clip is yet to arrive. We will initiate appropriate legal action and law of the land will prevail,” Solanki said.
Commenting on the situation in Bhavnagar, he said the city was peaceful.
Togadia has claimed that in order to prevent Muslims from buying properties he wanted the government to bring in Disturbed Areas Act to Bhavnagar, which would prevent inter-community sale of immovable property. Togadia could not be reached for a comment.
